Colon Cancer – How Often Does It Occur, Why and What is the Treatment Success Rate?

Colon cancer is about the 3rd most common cancer disease in the western world. In men number one is prostate cancer, number 2 lung cancer, just directly followed by colon cancer. In women colon cancer is on the second place after breast cancer. According to Alexis Freitas (Oncological surgery, Coloproctology, Wiener Privatklinik), there are different risk factors for colon cancer.

– There are two of them are definitely smoking and overweight. These are directly followed by lack of sports and lack of fibers in your daily diet. There's also data that frequently consumed alcohol and too much red meet may lead to a higher occurrence. Besides that they're definitely also genetic factors and risk factors like chronic inflammatory diseases – says Dr. Freitas.

What is the success rate in the treatment of this disease?

The overall success rate in the treatment of the disease is approximately 60%. There is a huge difference in the healing rate considering the stage when the carcinoma is detected. In many cases when you find the carcinoma in a very early stage without any lymph nodes and other metastasis surgical treatment alone may lead to healing. In other cases we need the full armament of our different chemotherapeutics and our radiation options.

What are the newest achievements of the medicine in treatment of this disease?

– For me as an oncologic surgeon the minimal invasive surgical options which now even lead to single incision surgery with a very small incision only is the biggest achievement of the last year.

Prevention – when and how?

The most important screening test for colon cancer is the colonoscopy. Polyps, which are prestages of carcinomas can be detected and immediately removed. Fecal occult blood tests, genetic and other stool tests, CT- colography are also helpful.


Wiener Privatklinik (WPK) is one of the most influential private clinics in Austria, which has been pronounced one of the best hospitals in the world for the second year in a row. The medical services provided by Wiener Privatklinik are grouped around 15 centers, and the oncology center of this hospital – WPK Central European Academy Cancer Center, is the most complex and reputable private center for cancer diagnostics and treatment in Central and East Europe.

Wiener Privatklinik

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Alexis Freitas

colon cancer

colon cancer treatment

screening test

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