The human large intestine is about 1.5 meters long and only accounts for a small portion of the entire intestine, but it is a high-risk area for intestinal tumors. Among the intestinal tract, the small intestine has an innate resistance to cancer and rarely develops tumors. The large intestine is not so lucky, as cancer can occur in all parts of it, with the most common site being the rectum, followed by the colon.
For colorectal cancer, there is an alarming figure. According to medical experts in some economically developed countries, for every 17-20 babies born, one will later suffer from colorectal cancer, and statistics in China show that for every 50 babies, one will later die from colorectal cancer.
What a horrible statistic! Colorectal cancer has become one of the demons that seriously threaten our health!
”Asymptomatic” is the stealth cloak of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer has no symptoms in early stage, so it is not easy to arouse people’s vigilance, and once it is found, it is mostly in the middle and late stage. The 5-year survival rate of early stage cancer can be more than 90%; while the 5-year survival rate of late stage colorectal cancer is close to 0% if radical resection cannot be performed, which shows that early detection and early treatment become the key to cure colorectal cancer.
Why are more and more people suffering from colorectal cancer nowadays? It has a lot to do with the change of our living conditions. Modern people have three high and one low diet structure: high calorie, high fat, high protein and low dietary fiber. High protein, high fat diet decomposed in the intestine can produce two strong carcinogens such as methylcholanthrene and unsaturated polyhydrocarbons.
The high protein and high fat diet is slow to digest and the stool stays in the intestine for a long time, coupled with the lack of physical exercise, the harmful substances in the stool are stored for a long time and play a role in the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Therefore, reasonable dietary arrangement, eating more food rich in coarse fiber and exercising more are important means to help prevent colorectal cancer.
Anal finger examination, one finger is worth a thousand dollars
When it comes to the anus, people will naturally show an unpleasant look. Maybe it is because of this reason. It is not uncommon for many patients suffering from anal, rectal and nearby organ diseases to become taboo and not dare to go to the hospital, thus making a big mistake.
There is a Mr. Wang, less than 40 years old to become a famous school’s discipline leader. Although the blood in the stool has been more than half a year, but he always thought it was “hemorrhoids”, so did not care. It was not until the Spring Festival break that he was “escorted” by his wife to the hospital for a checkup.
The surgeon did a simple anal finger examination after the face of the regretful expression has made Mrs. Wang’s heart cold half. Sure enough, the colonoscopy confirmed that the rectal cancer was advanced and the opportunity for surgery was lost.
Anal finger examination is a simple and painless examination method for early detection of rectal cancer. By inserting a gloved index finger into the patient’s anus, the doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis of various diseases of the rectum and nearby organs, including life-threatening rectal cancer, such as rectal polyps, prostate hyperplasia, pelvic disorders and certain gynecological diseases. The greatest value of anal finger examination is its ability to detect rectal cancer at an early stage.
In clinical work, about 80% of rectal cancer lesions can be detected early through anal examination, and most rectal cancers can be cured if they are diagnosed and treated early.
Therefore, anyone who is over 30 years old and has recent changes in stool habits, such as increased frequency of stool, constipation or alternating diarrhea and constipation; or frequent bowel movements but no fecal discharge, anal discomfort and feeling of swelling; blood in stool or mucus and pus on the surface of stool, should undergo anal finger examination to rule out the possibility of rectal cancer.
Colonoscopy, so that cancer is nowhere to be seen
Bai, who is not yet in his prime, has been in good health, but in February last year, he started to have blood in his stool, which did not improve after a month, and then went to an outpatient clinic for examination, where doctors successively diagnosed hemorrhoids and enteritis and carried out relevant treatment. Five months later, Bai’s condition got worse, so his family sent him to a large hospital, after colonoscopy, was diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer ……
After 40 to 50 years old, it enters the high incidence period of intestinal cancer, and its incidence rate accounts for the second or third place of malignant tumors. Gastrointestinal cancer symptoms are very vague, such as constipation and blood in stool, which are often encountered in life and are always treated as other diseases, so that it drags on and on and becomes advanced.
Is there any way to detect and eradicate these diseases that seriously threaten human health earlier? Intestinal endoscopy may be able to help you. A colonoscope enters through the anus and can “search” the entire intestinal cavity.
In China, endoscopy is not yet included in the regular health checkups because of the cost, and people are not aware enough of spending money on digestive endoscopy to check diseases, so the detection rate of early stage intestinal cancer is extremely low in China. A large number of bowel cancer patients miss the opportunity of early detection, which greatly affects the curative effect and prognosis of bowel cancer.
Colonoscopy is the most effective way to diagnose colon and rectal tumors and precancerous lesions, so regardless of whether there are symptoms or not, it is recommended that people should have their first colonoscopy at the age of 40 and every 3-5 years thereafter. If conditions really do not allow, a test should also be done to see if there is occult blood in the stool, and those found to have problems should then have further tests for early detection and early treatment.