Colorectal cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, includes cancers of different parts of the colon, for example, colon cancer where the tumor occurs in any part of the colon, rectal cancer where it occurs in the rectum, etc.
Colorectal cancer has the potential to become one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in China in the 21st century. The incidence of colorectal cancer increases with age, especially after 40 years old, with 50 to 60 years old as the high incidence stage. Surprisingly, in China, middle-aged and young patients in their 30s and 40s are not uncommon, and even children under 10 years old can also occur.
Who is prone to colorectal cancer?
People who have had colon cancer before the age of 55 in the first generation of their immediate family members.
People who have been diagnosed by a doctor with “family adenomatous carcinoma”.
People who have multiple polyps in the colon or have a single polyp larger than 1 cm in diameter.
Those who have ulcerative colitis, which has been treated for many years and has a large extent of lesions.
Patients who have schistosomiasis, because a large number of schistosomal eggs are deposited in the colon intestine, which can cause colon inflammation and polyp formation, which can easily induce the development of colorectal cancer.
”Family adenomatous polyp” is a hereditary disease in which hundreds of polyps can grow on the mucosa of the colon and rectum.
What phenomena should be thought of as possible signs of early colorectal cancer?
Change in bowel habits. The number of bowel movements is significantly increased or decreased than before.
Change of stool texture. Change from dry and hard stools to thin stools.
Distension and pain in the lower abdomen. If cancer grows in the left descending colon, the patient will have pain in the left lower abdomen; if cancer grows in the right ascending colon, the patient will have pain in the right lower abdomen.
Blood in stool or black stool. Positive fecal occult blood or black stool.
Anemia. Symptoms such as panic, shortness of breath, pale face and weakness appear.
If the above signs appear, do not delay and go to the hospital immediately for appropriate examination by the doctor.
How should people who may have colorectal cancer go to the hospital for regular checkups?
Those who have had colon cancer before the age of 55 in the first generation of immediate family members should receive annual fecal occult blood examination starting from the age of 40.
”Family members of patients with familial adenomatous polyps should be genetically screened, and those who have the gene for familial adenomatous polyps should undergo a colonoscopy once a year.
People with multiple polyps in the colon or a single polyp larger than 1 cm should undergo a colonoscopy every 1 to 3 years.
People who have ulcerative colitis, who have had poor results from years of treatment, and who have extensive lesions should undergo colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years.
Disease-causing genes Genes are structures made up of special substances in an organism that store genetic information. With genes, heredity can be realized, that is, with genetic information stored in genes, the traits of the previous generation (such as appearance and function of some organs) can be expressed in the next generation. Some genes store genetic information that can cause disease, and these genes are the genes that cause disease.
Is it meaningful to detect rectal cancer by anal finger examination during routine physical examination?
Among the surgical examinations of routine physical examination, anal finger examination is a simple and easy examination method, i.e. the doctor uses the index finger with sterilized finger cover to touch deep into the anus of the subject. It is wrong for some patients to give up this test because of the trouble. Because most of the rectal cancer masses can be felt during the anal finger examination, this test is the most basic and important test for rectal cancer screening.
It is easy to perform and painless, so people who take part in regular medical checkups must not give up this test.
What are the main tests needed to diagnose colorectal cancer?
Doctors will choose the following items to be examined according to the patient’s specific conditions as the basis for diagnosis
Occult blood test of stool: It is the most effective and simplest method for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Barium enema imaging test: It is to examine the shed cancer cells in the patient’s stool. If the shed cancer cells can be found, the diagnosis of colorectal cancer can be confirmed. A considerable number of early stage colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed through this test.
What is the main treatment method for colorectal cancer?
The preferred treatment method is surgery, together with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and Chinese medicine for comprehensive treatment.
The 5-year survival rate of patients who undergo surgery for colorectal cancer is over 50%.
How to minimize the possibility of getting colorectal cancer?
1.Reasonable arrangement of diet
The occurrence of colorectal cancer is closely related to dietary habits, so it is necessary to arrange the diet reasonably.
In the diet, we should insist on “two more and two less”, i.e. eat more coarse grains, more fresh vegetables and fruits and other foods containing fiber; eat less fine grains and less meat foods containing high fat and cholesterol.
Eat less salted, salted and smoked food.
Drink more water every day.
2.Adhere to good living habits
Adhere to physical exercise to prevent obesity.
Control alcohol consumption, do not smoke or quit smoking.
Develop the habit of regular bowel movements to keep the bowels open.