March is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting prevention of colorectal cancer, one of the most common but also highly treatable cancers when detected early. It is also referred to as colorectal carcinoma.
According to a European Commission report published in March 2021, colorectal cancer accounted for 12.7% of all new cancer diagnoses and 12.4% of all cancer-related deaths in the EU-27 countries in 2020. By 2045, it is estimated that 3.29 million new cases will be diagnosed worldwide, leading to 1.66 million deaths.
The disease occurs more frequently in men than in women, with age being a significant factor. Approximately 90% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer worldwide are over 50 years old.
Prevention and early detection save lives.
Regular screenings, such as colonoscopy, can detect early lesions or precancerous changes before they develop into serious disease. During a colonoscopy, tissue samples (biopsies) can be taken for histological examination if a suspicious lesion is found, and polyps can be removed to prevent progression to cancer.
Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease, the tumor’s molecular characteristics, and the patient’s overall health. Standard therapies include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy—which plays a key role in rectal cancer—as well as targeted therapies and immunotherapies guided by specific molecular biomarkers.
Through the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, the goal is to detect precancerous lesions or the disease itself early, allowing prompt intervention and treatment. Adenomatous polyps or early-stage neoplasms have a 100% cure rate when managed at an early stage, highlighting the critical importance of early detection.
For more information, visit the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program website: https://colon.gov.gr
For any questions, you can contact the service department at tel. 11401 or via email: prolipsis-helpdesk@idika.gr.
Sources:
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World Health Organization / Global Cancer Observatory 2022, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): https://gco.iarc.who.int/tomorrow/en/dataviz/isotype?age_end=17&single_unit=100000&types=0&cancers=41 (consulted on 17/02/2025)
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Kumar A, Gautam V, Sandhu A, Rawat K, Sharma A, Saha L. Current and emerging therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer: A comprehensive review. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2023 Apr 27;15(4):495–519. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i4.495. PMID: 37206081; PMCID: PMC10190721.
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World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/fr/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer (consulted on 17/02/2025)
- https://colon.gov.gr