Causes and prevention of colorectal cancer Causes and prevention of colorectal cancer If a person has frequent symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and a family history of bowel cancer, it is likely that he or she has developed colorectal cancer. In recent years, the number of colorectal cancer cases in Singapore has jumped to the first place. The Cancer Prevention Society has designated March this year as the first Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. There are many types of bowel cancer, but we usually refer to colon and rectal cancers which have a high incidence. Currently, the incidence of bowel cancer is on the rise and has even evolved to become the most common cancer among Singaporeans. However, if detected early, bowel cancer is also the most curable cancer. Bowel cancer usually develops from benign polyps. These rice-like polyps can grow to the size of a person’s fist. Removing these benign polyps before they become malignant is the best way to prevent bowel cancer, with a survival rate of about 90 percent. However, the majority of bowel cancer patients go to the hospital 2 to 3 months after the onset of symptoms. By then, the cancer cells have already spread. Once this leads to complications such as bowel obstruction or bowel perforation, the patient’s survival rate is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, 40% of bowel cancer patients are already very sick when they first go to the hospital for examination. Causes and prevention There are many causes of intestinal cancer, mainly the following two: a. Long-term consumption of high-fat and high-protein foods. These foods stay in the large intestine for a long time and are prone to form carcinogenic substances. Therefore, doctors suggest that we should reduce the intake of animal fat and eat more green vegetables and fruits as well as foods rich in fiber and starch. For example, potatoes, cereals, rice, pasta, etc. Also, don’t forget to keep your weight and exercise regularly. Second, heredity. 25% of bowel cancer occurs in families with a history of bowel cancer; the majority of members of some families are prone to polyps, and if they are allowed to develop, the incidence of bowel cancer is also 25%. This is because 50% of people over the age of 60 have large intestinal polyps. And we do not know which of these polyps of different sizes will develop into intestinal cancer. Therefore, we need to have regular checkups. There are two main methods to check for bowel cancer: first, various kinds of colonoscopy; second, stool testing fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy is to insert a thin catheter with a small camera into the patient’s large intestine through the anus, which has a higher accuracy rate. But it is painful for the patient and more expensive. Stool tests are certainly not painful, although they are not very accurate, at about 60%. Bowel cancer symptoms Given this, we should at least be aware that: First, bowel cancer is found in your immediate family members, such as parents or siblings, and you must have regular colonoscopies. Second, if bowel cancer is found in a non-immediate family member who is less than 50 years old, you can let your doctor decide whether to do a colonoscopy or not. Thirdly, if the following symptoms persist for two weeks or more, you should go to the hospital for examination: ① change in bowel habits, such as frequent diarrhea or constipation recently; mucus in stool; thin stool shape compared with before; ② bleeding stool often with bright red or dark red blood and mucus; ③ urgent and heavy feeling that the stool is not finished; ④ abdominal pain is mostly in the middle and lower abdomen, with varying degrees of severity ⑤ Anemia is often accompanied by fatigue and unexplained sudden weight loss.