[Colorectal cancer]

Incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing during the last years. 5% of the population get affected. From these a group of patients with a higher carcinoma risk must be separated: that with adenomas, familial polyposis and ulcerative colitis. Nourishment seems to be one of the main factors for the development of cancer. Although all important principles of radical surgery are realized, this 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is less than 40%. Prophylaxis, early diagnosis and the effect of irradiation and drug therapy must improve the relatively poor prognosis of colorectal cancer, which has reached in Germany the highest mortality and even -- with the exception of skin cancer -- the highest morbidity of all malignant neoplastic diseases.