Actions for colon- and rectal cancer prevention.

With a very successful campaign a team in Wiesbaden managed to motivate more than 3200 inhabitants to have preventive colonoscopy; theoretically more than 90 lives may have been saved by this 1-year-lasting action.

Carcinogenesis/Prevention:

Why does one get cancer – how to prevent it?

Challenge in the beginning:

„Carcinogenesis/Epidemiology“. The incidence of colon and rectal cancers in Germany is too high. The disease may be prevented.

Aim:

Help to reduce the incidence of colon- and rectal (and other) cancers; support better understanding of carcinogenesis and prevention.

Achievements:

Research in carcinogenesis/tumorbiology with Charles Heidelberger

(Research grants DFG, USC Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA).

Organize/participate in international meetings on basic research/translational research (Charles Heidelberger Meetings; AACR Meetings.

Organization of Meetings and (Co)Edition of Monographies: „Carcinogenesis in GI Cancer“/Univ.Ulm and „Nutrition and Cancer“/Univ.Ulm. Participate in a study on carcinogenesis. Initiation/conduction of successful broad prevention campaigns

(„Du bist kostbar“/State Hessen, „1000 Mutige Männer in Wiesbaden“).

Why and how?:

Recognition of polyps and early cancers only successful by colonoscopy. Number of males (and females) deciding for preventive colonoscopy is too low, number of people to die from the disease is too high. The incidence may be reduced by 70%. Institutions with health-political power helped to initiate campaigns on prevention.

K. H. Link, Ch. Heidelberger, J. Landolph: Induction of Quabain-resistant mutants by chemical carcinogens in rat prostate epithelial cells.  Environmental Mutagenesis 5 (1983) 33-48

K. H. Link head, board of directors Hessen Cancer Society; member extended board of directors German Cancer Society

Impressions:

Picture: Prof. Link meeting the Prime Minister of the state of Hesse, Volker Bouffier at the Hessian Health Day. To the right the initiators of the “du bist kostbar” (“you are precious!”) campaign (Mrs. Dr. C. Maulbecker-Armstrong and Prof. K. H. Link at “Hessentag”, Wetzlar)

Results of “1000 mutige Männer für Wiesbaden” (“1000 brave men…”):
More than 3000 males and females motivated = more than 100 lives saved!

 

„Psychooncological and Social demands of cancer patients“ and more……

During his time as CEO of the Hessian Cancer Society Professor Link established three offices with teams giving advice to cancer patients concerning their psychoocological and social problems/changes occurring due to their diseases. The advice is also given to the relatives of cancer patients.

Professor Link is member of the German Cancer S3 Guide Line committee for Psychooncology.

Professor Link is engaged with great success in actions for cancer prevention. He edited one of the first German books on the relation of nutrition and cancer. He coinitiated the now nationwide public action “du bist kostbar” to successfully spread for informations into the public community  on “how to prevent cancer”.