Colorectal cancer is a common disease, but early detection can prevent a great deal of suffering. This thesis investigated two major obstacles: the reliability of the current stool test and the burdensome preparation for a colonoscopy. In the first part, a breath test was evaluated that measures volatile compounds in exhaled air. The test was safe and simple for patients, but it was not yet accurate enough to replace the existing test. The second part focused on the discomfort of bowel preparation for a colonoscopy. Research showed that smaller amounts of laxatives can clean the bowel just as effectively. A 1-liter bowel preparation proved to be equally effective but much more comfortable than a 2-liter preparation. Additionally, a new flushing system that cleans the bowel during the colonoscopy was tested and appeared promising and feasible.
Milou van Riswijk (1994) studied Medicine at the University of Amsterdam and conducted her PhD research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Radboudumc, Nijmegen. In 2022, she received the ESGE Champions’ Den Research Grant and served as chair of the PhD Council of the Radboud Institute for Health Sciences. She is currently working as a resident in Internal Medicine at Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem.