According to the latest global cancer data released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization in 2020, colorectal cancer ranks third among the top ten cancers. Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is high, regular colonoscopy after entering middle age can be detected early and cured as soon as possible.
Colorectal cancer is often referred to as colorectal cancer. The colon and rectum are both part of the large intestine. Malignant tumors that occur here can be called colorectal cancer.
Regular colonoscopy can effectively prevent colorectal cancer, because colorectal cancers all change from polyps. If polyps are allowed to grow, they may become cancerous. Colonoscopy can detect and remove polyps as soon as possible.
There are 2 goals for colonoscopy:
● Check for malignant tumors:If caught early, there is a high chance that it can be cured. Some patients died because of late detection, but this is preventable.
● Check for polyps:It is found that polyps can be cut off immediately to avoid cancer.
When doctors performed colonoscopy to examine the internal conditions of the intestines, they found that some patients had polyps that had grown too large and were even bleeding, but they didn’t feel anything.
Therefore, it is very important for people with high risk factors for colorectal cancer and suspected symptoms to check for polyps or even malignant tumors under colonoscopy:
1. Have high risk factors
Inbreeding:If someone in the family suffers from colorectal cancer, the chance of getting cancer is doubled.
age:The older you get, the higher the chance of developing colorectal cancer. 90% of colorectal cancer patients are over 50 years old. The American Cancer Society stipulates that after the age of 45, colonoscopy should be performed.
2. Suspected symptoms
stomach ache:Discomfort and pain in a certain part of the abdomen.
anemia:Pay attention to iron-deficiency anemia in particular, because the slow bleeding in the intestine can cause iron-deficiency anemia.
fatigue:Blood loss caused by cancer cells and blood in the stool can cause fatigue.
Changes in stool:Bloody stools or changes in bowel habits. For example, people who are prone to constipation at ordinary times and have sudden diarrhea; or from loose stools and sudden constipation may be colorectal cancer or intestinal polyps.
Many people see blood in the stool and think that it is just hemorrhoids causing bleeding, but it may also be a cancerous polyp in the large intestine. Because there may be more than one cause, hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer can cause bleeding in the body at the same time, leading to bloody stools.
Colonoscopy is not scary, fasting the day before is very important
The operating method of the colonoscope is that the doctor uses a very long tube to enter the large intestine from the patient’s anus. There are lights and cameras in front of the tube. When you encounter places that you can’t see clearly, you can wash off foreign objects (such as feces) before checking.
Many people think that taking colonoscopy is scary, but in fact, an anesthesiologist will give anesthetics. During the examination period of about 30 minutes, the patient was in a comfortable state of falling asleep and did not feel at all.
But the most difficult thing is the preparation work the day before, there are two things that must be done:
1. Taking laxatives:There is usually stool in the intestine, which is not good for colonoscopy. Therefore, you must first take a laxative to get rid of the feces in the large intestine, so that you can see the inside of the intestine 100%.
2. Fasting:You can’t eat anything the day before, and can only drink beverages, such as apple juice, orange juice, etc. But avoid red and purple liquids, so as not to mistake them for blood during the examination.
Some people can’t help stealing food, and many patients will call and say, “Dr. Wang, I’m really hungry. I have diabetes. It is painful not to eat for a day.” However, eating will cause feces in the large intestine, making it impossible to see the intestines clearly, and will miss the chance to find polyps. It will take another 2 to 3 months before the colonoscopy can be repeated.
How to deal with polyps found?
During colonoscopy, if no polyps are found, you can wait for five years to check again.
If a polyp is seen, the doctor will cut it off on the spot. Large polyps need to be taken with colonoscopy 2 to 3 times before they can be cleaned.
Generally speaking, it takes one to three years to transform from a polyp to a malignant tumor of colorectal cancer. The United States stipulates that if three polyps or polyps of more than 3 cm are found at a time, colonoscopy must be performed again after three years.
Another situation is that polyps are found to have ulcers, which do not look normal. If they are suspected of colorectal cancer, they will be biopsied for testing. If the result is confirmed to be colorectal cancer, then refer to the surgery and oncology department to determine which stage of colorectal cancer is and how to treat it. If it is an advanced stage, the cancer cells have spread to other organs and can only be treated with chemotherapy and no surgery.
Colorectal cancer is a cancer with a relatively good long-term prognosis among all cancers. Therefore, regular colonoscopy is very important, early detection can almost be cured.
To prevent polyps and colorectal cancer, eat less red meat and quit smoking and alcohol
The cause of polyps is still unclear, but it is found that the older you are, the more likely it is to grow polyps and develop colorectal cancer.onlyColorectal cancer tends to be younger, and more and more people in their twenties and thirties are diagnosed.therefore，Pay attention to whether there is a risk of polyps and colorectal cancer in life.
Increase risk:Lack of exercise, frequent red meat and processed meat products, excessive obesity, smoking, and drinking.
Tobacco and alcohol can easily cause cell changes, which can lead to polyps. Eat less red meat and processed meat products to reduce the risk of polyps and cancer.
As for pesticides remaining in fruits and vegetables, preservatives in foods, and even stale foods, although studies have not yet confirmed that they can cause colorectal cancer, they can affect the stomach and increase the risk of stomach cancer. Therefore, the source of food should still be paid attention to.
In addition, in life, there are some ways to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
reduce risk:Supplement folic acid-containing vitamins and minerals such as selenium and calcium; eat more high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables; women take hormones after menopause.
Folic acid helps prevent colorectal cancer, while calcium and selenium can protect the large intestine. Eating more fruits and vegetables is good for the overall health of the large intestine and body.
In a chaotic world, if you have a healthy way, just lookHealth 1+1！
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Editor in charge: Li Qingfeng
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