Colon cancer

Proven content

Colorectal cancer is one of the more insidious cancers as it develops without any symptoms for many years. It can take up to 10 years for bowel cancer to attack sharply. That is why it is so important to perform checkups, because they allow to detect the cancer at an early stage, when there is a very good chance of curing it.

Unfortunately, the lack of symptoms of colorectal cancer in the early stage of development is often the reason why we come to the doctor too late to win the disease. Much depends on us – if we regularly visit the doctor, get tested and eat properly, we can overcome the disease.

Symptoms of colon cancer

Colorectal cancer develops insidiously and gives no symptoms for many years. However, concern should be raised by:

1. Disturbing constipation – as the cancer grows (i.e. when polyps inside the intestine grow), its internal cross-section (the so-called intestinal lumen) decreases. In very advanced cancer, this can lead to a blockage in the intestine.
2. Change in bowel movements that cannot be explained by a change in diet or lifestyle.
3. Diarrhea combined with large amounts of gas that last for many weeks.
4. Anemia, which we most often feel in the form of decreased efficiency, greater susceptibility to fatigue and increased temperature.
5. Pain in the abdomen and lower back, discomfort, nausea, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
6. Nausea and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements.
7. Blood stains on paper or underwear, rectal bleeding. Here, it is very important to delimit any bleeding that may be caused by rupture of the hemorrhoids, i.e. hemorrhoids.

Each of these symptoms should make us visit a doctor.

Time is of the essence in treating cancer

In most cases, colorectal cancer arises from polyps (benign adenomas) that form on the inner walls of the intestine. It takes about 10 years for an adenoma to turn into a tumor. If we are not able to see a doctor immediately with disturbing symptoms, we can perform a blood test for blood in the stool (the so-called occult blood test). It is enough to buy a suitable test kit from a pharmacy. Even if its result is negative, and other ailments appear, it is worth contacting a doctor to determine the cause of malaise. We already know that colon cancer develops initially without giving any signals. So better check if something is wrong. People whose relatives suffered from cancer, are significantly overweight, have poor nutrition, and abuse strong coffee, tea and alcohol, should exercise particular caution.

Safely and conveniently buy Home Fecal Occult Blood Test – FOB TEST on Medonet Market. The test is available separately or in a set of home tests for stomach problems, which also includes a test for Helicobacter pylori.

Colon cancer prevention

Every person (regardless of gender) over 50 years of age should undergo a colonoscopy. It is a very important research, which determines the further life. This is the only way to detect all precancerous lesions – i.e. polyps, also known as adenomas. They are easy to remove before they turn into cancerous changes. Unfortunately, although the test can be performed free of charge, still few people use it. This is why the results of colorectal cancer treatment are still unsatisfactory in Poland. About 70 percent. patients see a doctor when the cancer has already wreaked havoc on the body and it is impossible to think about a very effective therapy. People who report to a specialist with stage I disease have a 90 percent chance of being cured, while in the second stage – 63 – 72 percent. Colorectal cancer stage III gives such hope to only 50 percent of patients, and stage IV only 17. So there is something to strive for.

Colon cancer prevention

In the prevention of colorectal cancer, it is colonoscopy, i.e. examination of the entire large intestine. It consists in carefully examining the inside of the intestine with an endoscope. If the test shows nothing disturbing, it should be repeated after 10 years. But if we are hereditary with cancer, for example, the mother had endometrial cancer, the sister had breast cancer, and especially when a relative had colorectal cancer – the first examination should be performed 10 years earlier than the relatives. The purpose of the test is to capture any changes on the surface of the mucosa that line the colon. This is the only way to locate the bleeding site or polyp, or to check the condition of the mucosa in the case of suspected ulcerative colitis – a disease that carries the risk of cancer development. Colonoscopy can be performed on both a child and an elderly person. Even women in the first trimester of pregnancy are treated with it.

The referral is issued by your GP or gastroenterologist. But you can also use the examination as part of the screening program supervised by the Cancer Center. On the website www.coi.waw.pl you will find information on the place and time of such research. People who want to use it can even print a referral themselves, following the instructions. After completing the questionnaire, it should be sent to the oncology center closest to our place of residence. Each survey is entered into the database and usually after a few weeks we receive an invitation to the survey.

We will pay from 300 to 400 PLN for the examination performed in a private clinic. There, we can also be examined under general anesthesia, which is performed at the patient’s request and for an additional fee.

How to prepare for a colonoscopy?

Before the examination, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the intestine of any fecal matter. The effectiveness of this “big cleanup” depends on the type of laxatives you use and the amount of fluids you drink. The intestines can be emptied traditionally by staying on a strict diet for 3 days (a gentle way, good for the elderly and chronically ill). A 24-hour intestinal cleaning is usually offered to young and healthy people. The patient then only takes fluids and strong laxatives (morning and evening). The final stage of preparation is an enema, which ends only when no impurities are released from the intestines.

The test is slightly painful, but the discomfort you experience is rather related to forcing large amounts of air into the intestine. Before the procedure, painkillers and sedatives are taken. The patient undresses from the waist down and lies on his left side. The gastrologist inserts the gel-moistened tip of the apparatus (colonoscope) into his anus and, pushing it slightly deeper into the large intestine, examines its walls. The entire test takes only several minutes. Colonoscopy is a safe examination that can be repeated even at short intervals. The patient gets to know the result on an ongoing basis during the test. In addition, they also receive a description of the study in writing.

In some cases, virtual colonoscopy is performed, which consists of a radiological examination, computed tomography of the large intestine filled with air. However, this method does not allow you to take a section or remove a polyp.

Treatment of colon cancer

The mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer in the lower section (i.e. rectal cancer) is no longer only surgery. The so-called combination therapywhich consists in irradiating the affected areas and then operating them. This procedure gives the best chance of successful therapy and preserves the anal sphincter.

In the case of anal cancer (fortunately there are few), surgery is usually abandoned and a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used.

New drugs that delay the formation of new cancer cells and thus prolong life in advanced stages of the disease are a huge advancement in the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, in the case of a disseminated form of colorectal cancer with multiple metastases, the chances of a complete recovery are slim. But even with multiple metastases, it is possible to extend the patient’s life through the use of various types of chemotherapy.

It is a combination of drugs that kill all cells that divide quickly, including cancer cells. It is used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor, after surgery to kill any cancer cells that have spread throughout the body (so-called adjuvant-adjuvant therapy), and when it has metastasized to other organs. There is also a large group of more and more effective drugs at the disposal of doctors and patients. New treatment options have also emerged for patients with colorectal cancer and surgical liver metastases. The use of chemotherapy before and after surgery increased the percentage of patients surviving 3 years without recurrence from 28% to 34%.

The new standard is the use of combination therapy with antibodies. Simplifying the problem, it can be said that it consists in the combined administration of chemotherapy with antibodies that act selectively, only on cancer cells, without damaging the healthy cells of the body.

How can you prevent colon cancer?

We have already said that people with a family history of cancer should monitor their body and perform a colonoscopy at the right time. But also those who are not hereditary should protect themselves against this type of cancer. What can we do?

Colorectal cancer likes to attack obese people. To reduce the risk of falling ill, let’s make sure that the BMI remains in the range of 20-25. Daily physical activity (at least 1 hour a day) and an hour of intensive training once a week are also important. But the most important thing is diet.

It should be based on vegetables and fruits (400-800 g per day) and grain products (600-800 g per day). Vegetables are a rich source of fiber, vitamins C and E, and folic acid. Fiber not only increases fecal masses and speeds up intestinal transit, but also neutralizes bile acids. Among the cereal products, the greatest benefit for our intestines is wheat bran, because it facilitates the work of the intestine. They can be added to kefir, yogurt and even cottage cheese. Dairy products should also be an inseparable element of the diet, because the calcium contained in it binds bile acids well. The anti-cancer diet must be low in red meat (no more than 80 g per day, i.e. medium-sized minced cutlet, one bit or chop) and animal fats. Foods rich in cholesterol increase the risk of colorectal cancer, because it has carcinogenic properties not only for our blood vessels. Beef fat and corn oil are unhealthy. Instead, let’s use olive oil and fish oils.

You should also not overdo it with alcohol, coffee, tea. The method of preparing the meal is also important in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Therefore, when caring for them, let us occasionally allow ourselves smoked and traditionally (over hot fire) grilled meat and fish. Dangerous nitro compounds are formed in meat baked at temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius. They are also present in sausage products and preserved products.

Doctors are increasingly pointing out that the overuse of non-Android anti-inflammatory drugs can also contribute to the development of colon cancer. While there is no definitive confirmation of this theory yet, it is better to exercise caution.

Worth remembering

1. It usually takes 10 years from the appearance of polyps in the large intestine to the development of cancer. At the beginning, when only polyps bother us, they can be removed during a colonoscopy.
2. The term colorectal cancer is a malignant neoplasm of the colon, sigmoid colon and rectum. It is the second most common cancer in Europe. Almost 3 million people live with this disease in the world. In Poland, each year, it is diagnosed in about 12 thousand. people., and 8,5 thousand. dies. It affects men and women equally. 90 percent cases of the disease are found in people over 50 years of age.
3. Europacolon in Poland is a non-profit association working for patients suffering from colorectal cancer. The founder is Jola Gore-Booth, a British woman of Polish origin who spreads knowledge about cancer throughout Europe. The association has been operating in our country since March 2007. The activities of the association are aimed at reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients. More information on europacolon is available at www.europacolon.pl
4. In the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, the so-called related research. These include research:

By right (literally – through the rectum) is one of the basic diagnostic methods. The doctor uses a finger to examine the condition of the intestine, which makes it possible to detect the sources of bleeding and neoplastic nodules. Each patient, even without any ailments, should demand such an examination, because it allows the detection of almost one third of colon cancers.

Contrast infusion it consists in taking a series of radiographs of the large intestine after administering liquid contrast to the intestine and filling it with air.

Anoskopiya is a colonoscopy of the anal canal and rectal tip.

Rectoscopy rectal colonoscopy. Rectoromanoscopy is a rectoscopy extended to the end of the sigmoid colon, i.e. the lower part of the large intestine just in front of the rectum).

Sigmoidoscopy consists in endoscopy of the end of the large intestine along with the sigmoid colon.