Colorectal cancer or colorectal cancer is the most common malignancy in the Chinese community. Colon cancer is the number one cancer among men and the number two cancer among women. People over the age of fifty are at higher risk, but the disease can affect people of any age. Unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
The key to colorectal cancer treatment is early detection, timely diagnosis and surgical cure. Early stage colon cancer has a cure rate of 80 to 95% or more.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and, like other malignant tumors, the cause of its development is still unclear. The majority of bowel cancer tumors are adenocarcinomas, and a few are mucinous carcinomas. Bowel cancer originates from the innermost mucosal layer of the walls of the colon and rectum. Bowel cancer is a cancer formed by the abnormal growth of cells in the mucosal layer of the intestine. In clinical practice, it is found that intestinal mucosal polyps can become malignant, among which adenomas are the most likely to become malignant, indicating the close relationship between intestinal cancer and intestinal polyps.
High risk factors for bowel cancer
Colorectal cancer can develop at any age, but it mostly occurs in people above middle age, most often over 50 years of age, but it is also common in people under 30 to 40 years of age. High risk factors for bowel cancer include a family history of bowel cancer or polyps in close relatives, a history of polyps or bowel cancer, a history of ulcerative colitis, or a history of other related cancers and family history (e.g., breast, uterine and ovarian cancers).
In addition, the occurrence of bowel cancer is also related to diet, lifestyle habits, smoking and alcohol consumption. Many modern diets have a preference for refined diets that are low in fiber and high in fat, which may be one of the factors contributing to the increased incidence of bowel cancer.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
The early symptoms of bowel cancer are not obvious, most patients have no symptoms at all, but the symptoms to be noted include
Blood in stool, especially dark blood mixed with feces
Changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, alternating diarrhea and constipation)
Abdominal pain or bloating
Unexplained weight loss
Anemia
Abnormal lumps in the abdomen
Sensation of incomplete evacuation after defecation but still
How to prevent colorectal cancer?
To prevent colorectal cancer, you should pay attention to your diet and eat less red meat (especially meat cooked at high temperature) and animal fat. Eat more vegetables and fruits with high fiber content. At the same time, quit smoking, drink less alcohol, exercise more and reduce sedentary lifestyle to reduce the incidence of bowel cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable tumors available. It usually originates as a non-cancerous neoplastic “polyp” in the inner mucosa of the colon or rectum. If screened, caught early and removed, it can be stopped from becoming a tumor. If detected early, bowel cancer is also the most curable cancer. The current medical recommendation is to start screening for bowel cancer at the age of 50, regardless of the presence of symptoms.
