The incidence of colon cancer has gradually increased in recent years, and most colon cancers develop from colon polyps, which are one of the common clinical gastrointestinal diseases, especially adenomatous polyps which are recognized as precancerous lesions of colon cancer. Colon polyp is a common disease of digestive system, timely colonoscopy and regular review of colonoscopy to detect and treat colon polyp is the most important way to prevent colon cancer. The main aspects of colon cancer prevention are in the following areas.
Regular colonoscopy review
Pay attention to postoperative colonoscopy review for timely detection of new adenomatous polyps. Timely and regular review of colonoscopy after colon cancer surgery is the key to prevent recurrence of colon cancer after surgery. It is recommended that post-surgical colon cancer patients should have a colonoscopy once a year or so. According to statistics, 80% of colon cancer comes from adenomatous polyps, and adenomatous polyps have higher malignant potential than non-adenomatous polyps, with a cancer rate of 1.4%-20.4%, and it takes about 10 years to transform from polyps to invasive bowel cancer. It has been reported that the proportion of adenomatous polyps increases with age, especially in people over 60 years of age.
Colonic polyps are common colonic diseases, which are lesions that grow from the mucosa of the colon and rise above the mucosal surface, usually from an overgrowth of epithelial cells and extend from the mucosal surface into the lumen.
Colonic polyps can be classified as non-adenomatous polyps and adenomatous polyps
- Non-adenomatous polyps are classified as hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory polyps, and juvenile polyps.
- Adenomatous polyps are divided into tubular adenomas, mixed adenomas, villous adenomas, and serrated adenomas. Among them, adenomatous polyps have been recognized as precancerous lesions of colon cancer.
The carcinogenesis of adenomatous polyps roughly proceeds through the process of hyperplastic adenoma → tubular adenoma → villous adenoma → early carcinoma → invasive carcinoma. Therefore, effective prevention of colon polyps can reduce the postoperative recurrence rate of colon cancer, and regular colonoscopy is the most important method.
More physical activity
More exercise prevents postoperative recurrence and colorectal cancer in colon cancer patients. People who are more physically active in adolescence and adulthood significantly reduce the incidence of colon polyps and colon cancer.
Adequate dietary fiber
High-fat recipes and inadequate fiber are major causes of colon cancer. Studies have shown that a diet of saturated fatty acids increases the concentration of bile acids and neutral sterols in the colon and alters the composition of the colonic flora. Bile acids can produce carcinogens such as 3-methylcholanthrene by bacterial action, and sterol rings can be aromatized by bacterial action to form carcinogens.
Food fiber, including cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin, absorbs water, increases stool volume, dilutes the concentration of residues in the intestine, and can shorten the time for stool to pass through the large intestine and reduce the time for carcinogens to come into contact with the intestinal mucosa, which can cause the development of colon cancer if there is not enough dietary fiber.
Recommend bitter melon and garlic
Bitter gourd and garlic are especially recommended for patients with bowel cancer and are advocated to be consumed daily.
- Bitter gourd is bitter, but when consumed, it is bitter and cool, refreshing, and not greasy. Not only can it lower sugar, but the proteolipids in bitter gourd can also stimulate and strengthen the immune cells in the body, enhance the ability to engulf cancer cells, and play an anti-cancer role. A better role of bitter melon is to relieve pain. Pain is prone to cause tension, depression and other adverse emotions, which is not conducive to treatment, so bitter melon is especially suitable for post-surgical bowel cancer patients, cold, fried bitter melon or bitter melon powder is a good choice.
- Garlic may not taste good, but it is rich in antioxidants that inhibit tumor growth and is known as the “master” of bowel cancer prevention. Japanese scientists have found that those who eat garlic every day, or take a garlic supplement, are less likely to get bowel cancer. For those in the early stages of bowel cancer, eating garlic can also help them recover as quickly as possible.
In summary, it’s important for colon cancer patients to have regular colonoscopies after surgery, and a sensible diet can help reduce the recurrence rate of colon cancer after surgery.