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Bowel Cancer Centre

Early detection

Up to 90 percent of all bowel cancers develop from benign tissue growths, the so-called intestinal polyps. Since bowel cancer usually develops slowly, there is enough time to remove these precursors by colonoscopy and to clear the ground for the development of bowel cancer.

Intestinal polyps rarely lead to symptoms, but can degenerate with increasing size (malignant transformation). This process lasts up to ten years and is called adenoma-carcinoma sequence. In about seven percent of the normal population, polyps are found in the intestine, with the risk increasing from the age of 50. This is also the reason why preventive colonoscopy is normally recommended from the age of 50.

Risk Groups

Persons who, due to a particular predisposition, have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to the normal population usually belong to one of three defined risk groups:

  • Individuals with a familial increased risk of colorectal cancer whose genetic basis is not yet fully understood.
    •  First-degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinoma, especially those in whom a colorectal adenoma was detected before the age of 50, have an increased risk of also developing colorectal carcinoma.
    • Second degree relatives have a slightly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
    • Any histologically proven benign polyps (adenoma) represent an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. This is especially true for multiple (≥3) or large (>1 cm) adenomas.
  • Proven or potential carriers of hereditary colorectal cancer.
  • Risk persons on the ground of a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

For risk groups, an earlier preventive colonoscopy is recommended. Your doctor at the Intestinal Centre can explain the exact recommendations to you for your personal risk profile.

Preventive colonoscopy at the Intestinal Center

Preventive colonoscopies are usually performed by our cooperating resident gastroenterologists using the latest video endoscopes and the greatest safety. Thanks to a controlled sleep injection, the examination is not stressful. The risk of complications is extremely low. In case of difficult findings, e.g. a very large or difficult to access polyp, the examination can be continued in our clinic. The Medical Clinic II has a very experienced endoscopy department and with its specially trained and certified team of doctors and nurses performs over 12,000 endoscopies/year, of which more than 4,000 are colonoscopies, making us the largest endoscopy department available in our region.

You will be informed immediately, wether the examination was inconspicuous or a benign polyp was removed. In this case you will be invited for a follow-up examination depending on the results.

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