Bowel cancer, anxiety from eating

The latest announcement (December 2006) of HCMC Cancer Society shows that the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing markedly, among the 5 most common types of cancer. According to researchers, this increase is related to people's diet.

A year ago, Mr. PXT, 45 years old, lived in Ho Chi Minh City, suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhea, sometimes he went out to produce some fresh blood. Thinking I was ' hot ' in people who ate often, I bought medicine for myself. After three months, the symptoms appeared again. After seeing a doctor, he was discovered by a doctor to have rectal cancer, it was too late.

Both the patient and the doctor may be mistaken for another disease

According to MSc-Doctor Bui Chi Viet, Deputy Faculty of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City Cancer Hospital (BV), while in Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of liver cancer and stomach cancer has not changed. The large intestine and intestines are increasing, as people increasingly have access to Western eating patterns. Every year, in European and American countries, tens of thousands of people die from this disease and people have found a link between the disease and the habit of eating baked goods, using fast food, eating a lot of fat and red meat, Low fiber.

Dr. Bui Chi Viet examines a cancer patient with colorectal cancer (Photo: TTO)

Dr. Dang said the common symptoms of colorectal cancer are changes in bowel habits such as prolonged diarrhea and constipation; stomachache; the bridge but the feeling is complete; Bloody bowel movements, black stools . When these symptoms are present, patients often assume they have common digestive disorders or dysentery and buy their own medicines. After a period of time, when the abdominal tumor appears, the patient who is new to the examination is late. According to BS, colorectal cancer can be detected early by simple rectal examination, however, subjectively, some physicians ignore this stage or simply think it is common diseases like hemorrhoids, dysentery, so the disease is also ignored. At Cancer Hospital, the majority of colorectal cancer patients come to the late stage, the cancer has spread, difficult to thoroughly treat. While early detection and proper treatment, 90% of patients can live for 5 years.

Prevention: Eat more fiber

MSc - Doctor Dao Thi Yen Phi, a lecturer of HCMC Health Training and Fostering Center, said fiber plays a very important role in preventing colorectal cancer. In some Western countries, after recommending that people eat 500 g of fruits and vegetables a day, the incidence has dropped significantly. According to Dr. Phi, fiber is classified as a macronutrient group without energy supply, not absorbed into the bloodstream. When inside the intestine, fiber stimulates intestinal motility to contract, helps prevent constipation, expels carcinogens and harmful bacteria out; Also fiber also prevents absorption of toxic fats.

According to Dr. Phi, each adult needs 30 g of fiber per day. To get this amount, you need to eat 200 g of vegetables, 100 g of fruit and 100 g of cereals and vegetables. Fiber consists of 2 forms, insoluble form, mainly cellulose, which is abundant in fruit and vegetable peels; soluble form, in flute dew, easier to eat, suitable for the elderly.

Tens of years of treating colorectal cancer, Associate Professor Dr. Le Quang Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Department of Foreign Medicine of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy said that with the above suspicious symptoms, it is unlikely that the patient will develop cancer -rectal. However, the patient's first job is to find a doctor to clarify and rule out the disease. It should also be remembered that the majority of colorectal cancer cases are silently progressive without significant symptoms. In order to detect the disease early, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quang Nghia suggested that people do screening as recommended by the American Cancer Society. It is a man or woman over 50 years of age, with a moderate risk level, one of the following options needs to be done: Every year try to find microscopic blood; colonoscopy every 5 years; annual test of microscopic blood scans with colonoscopy every 5 years; taking colonic colitis every 5 years; Colonoscopy every 10 years.

Screening of 1 million people in 2007

Last week, Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Medic Center, said he was planning to coordinate with the Gastrointestinal Association, HCMC Cancer Society, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. promotes screening for colorectal cancer over 1 million people this year.Screening is based on a simple test that people can do at home, costing about 25,000 VND / trial (50% subsidy).This test aims to find hidden blood in the stool with very small numbers of microscopic, if positive, the patient will be advised to take the next steps to find colorectal cancer.When detecting this very early cancer, Dr. Hai said the disease could be completely cured.

PHAN SON