Colorectal cancer: Symptoms, causes and prevention

Colorectal cancer is a common cancer in both men and women with the second highest mortality rate in all types of cancer in the United States.

Learn about colorectal cancer and how to prevent it

The patient suffers from colorectal cancer when abnormal cells develop in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or the last segment of the rectum of the gastrointestinal tract (rectum).

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps - a harmless growth tumor inside the intestine. Polyps are formed when abnormal problems with cells develop in the lining of the colon. Most polyps are harmless, but some can turn malignant so they should be removed early to prevent the disease.

The risk of colorectal cancer depends on family history, age and lifestyle. Risk factors with 2 types can be controlled and cannot be controlled.

Uncontrollable disease factors such as:

1. Age - disease is common in people over 50 years old.
2. Having polyps or inflammatory bowel disease.
3. Family history of someone with colorectal cancer.
4. There is a history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer.

How to prevent colorectal cancer:

The patient suffers from colorectal cancer when abnormal cells develop in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or the last segment of the rectum of the gastrointestinal tract (rectum).

Risk factors that can be controlled:

1. A diet high in red meat has been processed, or cooked at high temperatures.
2. Obesity (in the waist area).
3. Less exercise and exercise.
4. Smoking.
5. Use alcohol.

Colorectal cancer has no early warning signs, so you should conduct periodic screening tests to detect the disease. When detected early, doctors can treat and prolong the life of the patient. When the disease is in advanced stage, blood in the stool may be seen or abdominal pain, abnormal gastrointestinal manifestations (constipation or diarrhea), unexplained weight loss or fatigue. This time the tumor tends to be bigger and harder to treat.

Screening is the key to early detection. Beginning at age 50, colonoscopy should be performed every 10 years to detect early tumors and may prevent colorectal cancer by removing polyps (if any). Also hidden blood tests and stool tests can detect signs of cancer and should be done once a year.

Colorectal cancer is divided into 4 stages:

1. Stage 0 - Cancer is only in the innermost layer of the colon or rectum.
2. Stage I - Cancer has developed in the muscle layer of the colon or rectum.
3. Stage II - Cancer has developed to the outer layers of the colon or rectum.
4. Stage III - The cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes.
5. Stage IV - Cancer has spread to other parts of the body (such as liver, lungs or bones).

The prospect of recovery depends on the stage of the cancer. If the 5-year survival rate is calculated, stage I has a 5-year survival rate of 74%, while stage IV has a 5-year survival rate of only 6%. However, this type of cancer is sometimes cured even if it has spread to lymph nodes (stage III). Treatment regimens usually include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. If the cancer returns or spreads to other organs, it will be more difficult to treat. However, radiation and chemotherapy can still relieve symptoms and help you live longer.

Prevent colorectal cancer with diet

You can take the following steps to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.

1. Eat a nutritious diet, exercise and control body fat.
2. Changing bad habits prevents 45% of colorectal cancer cases. The American Cancer Society recommends a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, limiting processed meat and red meat; Eat whole grains instead of refined grains.

Prevent cancer by exercising

In one study, people who were more active were less likely to develop cancer than those who were less active. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes a day.