Importance of early detection of colorectal cancer

SAŽETAK. Tijekom posljednjih dvadesetak godina zabilježen je značajan porast učestalosti i smrtnosti od kolorektalnog karcinoma. Unatoč stručnom i znanstvenom napretku medicine, nije se bitno promijenila činjenica da bolesnici žive dulje od pet godina. Spoznaja da je adekvatnom organizacijom zdravstvene skrbi i prevencijom moguće umanjiti ove poražavajuće podatke, potaknula je pokretanje nacionalnih programa s ciljem ranog otkrivanja karcinoma debelog crijeva. Nova saznanja na području dijagnostike i endoskopije omogućuju brže i sigurnije postavljanje dijagnoze. Osnovu liječenja čini kirurško liječenje poduprto stalnim tehničkim napretkom, a dodatnu i ne manje bitnu ulogu ima nova i sve učinkovitija kemoterapija i radioterapija. Navedene metode i saznanja ukazuju na mogućnost izlječenja sve većeg broja bolesnika i uspjeh u borbi protiv karcinoma debelog crijeva.ABSTRACT. A significant increase in the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer has been detected during the last twenty years. Despite the progress in medical practice and science there has been no indicative change in the 5-year survival of patients. The knowledge that an adequate health care organization and prevention can decrease these defeating data, prompted the start of national programs for early detection of colorectal cancer. New cognitions in the fields of diagnostics and endoscopy make diagnosis faster and more accurate. Surgical therapy, which is supported by constant technical progress, represents the basis of cancer treatment, while the new and more effective chemotherapy and radiotherapy have an additional and important therapeutical role. The above mentioned methods and knowledge indicate that there is a possibilty in curing a large number of patients and succeeding in the struggle against colorectal cancer