| Abstract: | In the recent years, colon and rectum have become the most common sites (apart from skin) where the population of the developed world, and also in Slovenia, develops one of the cancer diseases. In 2008, it was estimated that 1,235,108 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer around the world (9.8% of all new cancer cases), and 609,051 died of the disease. It was estimated that in Europe in 2008, 229,229 men and 203,185 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 110,059 men and 102,160 died of it. In both genders, colorectal cancer represents one of the most common cancer diseases; in men, it was in third place with 12.8% (after prostate and lung cancers), and in women, it was in second place with 13.1%, right after breast cancer. According to the data of the Cancer Registry of the Republic of Slovenia, 1,453 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2008, of which 827 were men (83.0/100,000) and 626 were women (61.0/100,000), and 758 patients died from that disease, which is 13% of all cancer deaths. Most cancers were found in the colon (57%), 9% were located in the rectosigmoid area, and 44% were developed in the rectum. The incidence has been increasing since the middle of the 1950s, and even more rapidly in the last 20 years. The five-year relative survival is improving gradually due to a higher percentage of treated patients, improved surgical techniques and systemic treatment, but in too many cases, the disease is still diagnosed at an advanced stage. A healthy lifestyle, maintenance of a normal weight, non-smoking, healthy nutrition and physical activities are the most important factors in the prevention of colorectal cancer. In addition, organised population-based screening under the Screening for Colorectal Cancer (SVIT) will contribute the most to the detection of the disease at an early stage and eradication of pre-cancerous lesions. |
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