I thought it was a minor gastrointestinal problem, but it turned out to be cancer! Pay attention to these people! Timely examination can really save lives

Stomach pain, bloating, acid reflux, blood in stool...

Some people think it is just a "minor stomach problem"

Get used to ignoring and enduring

Little did they know

It is possible that a digestive tract tumor has "quietly come to your door"

Need to know

my country is a country with a high incidence of digestive tract tumors

Especially as we age

The incidence of digestive tract tumors will also increase

Patients with early-stage digestive tract cancer

Almost no symptoms

When symptoms such as blood in stool and abdominal pain occur

80% of patients have progressed to advanced stage

But digestive tract tumors are not incurable!

Minimally invasive treatment at an early stage

Most patients recover fully

The 5-year survival rate is over 90%.

The key to treatment is

Early detection

So, how to find out as soon as possible?

What are the clues of early digestive tract cancer?

Find out about gastrointestinal endoscopy!

Gastroenteroscopy is one of the best means of screening for early digestive tract cancer. Early cancers in the esophagus, stomach, and large intestine cannot escape its sharp eyes!

A gastroenteroscopy consists of two parts:

One is gastroscopy , which means that the gastroscopy is passed from the mouth into the stomach to observe the internal conditions of the digestive system.

The other is colonoscopy , which refers to the colonoscope being inserted from the anus, moving according to the physiological structure of the intestine and observing the status of the intestinal cavity.

In addition to being able to directly detect some lesions in the digestive tract, gastrointestinal endoscopy also has a therapeutic effect. It can remove the lesions and effectively prevent the disease from worsening. Inspection + treatment, killing two birds with one stone .

People at high risk of gastric cancer

Image source: Photo Network

People aged 45 and above who meet any of the following criteria are at high risk of gastric cancer and are recommended to undergo regular gastroscopy examinations:

1. Long-term residence in areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer (Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, Yangtze River Delta, Taihang Mountains, etc. are areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer; Liaoning, Fujian, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, etc. are provinces with a high incidence of gastric cancer);

2. People infected with Helicobacter pylori;

3. Patients with precancerous diseases such as chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric polyps, residual stomach after surgery, hypertrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, etc.

4. First-degree relatives (parents, children, etc.) have a history of gastric cancer;

5. The presence of other high-risk factors for gastric cancer (high salt, pickled diet, smoking, heavy drinking, etc.).

Image source: Photo Network

People at high risk of colorectal cancer

Image source: Photo Network

People aged 40 and above who meet any of the following criteria are at high risk of colorectal cancer and are recommended to undergo regular colonoscopy:

1. First-degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) have a family history of colorectal cancer;

2. Long-term bloody stools;

3. I have a history of ulcerative colitis;

4. Have any history of malignant tumor;

5. I have a history of intestinal polyps.

Image source: Photo Network

Some friends may ask: Can gastroscopy and colonoscopy be done at the same time?

Can.

In this case, painless gastroscopy and painless colonoscopy are usually chosen. Only one anesthesia is needed to do the gastroscopy and colonoscopy at the same time.

For normal people, there is no physical discomfort and the result of the first gastrointestinal endoscopy is completely negative. If there are no special circumstances, a gastrointestinal endoscopy is generally required once every three years.

Because the initial examination results are normal, even if the patient later develops polyps, tumors or other lesions, it will take a certain amount of time, so there is no need for frequent reexaminations.

However, the following situations require a higher inspection frequency:

1. No matter how long it has been since the first gastrointestinal endoscopy, if you have symptoms such as blood in the stool, vomiting blood, and black stool , it is best to have another gastrointestinal endoscopy;

2. If the first gastrointestinal endoscopy indicates atrophic gastritis , or even intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, etc. , the reexamination frequency should be higher accordingly. The specific recommendations should be based on the type of disease and the doctor's advice.

3. If ulcer disease is suspected, a standardized follow-up examination should be carried out again after two months of treatment to understand the healing situation.

1. After the examination, you need to rest in the recovery room. You can leave the endoscopy center accompanied by your family members only if you do not feel dizzy, drowsy or have any other discomfort, and with the consent of the anesthesiologist.

2. After the examination, since the pharyngeal anesthesia effect has not disappeared, you still need to fast and abstain from water for 2 hours. After 2 hours, you can try drinking water first. If there is no difficulty in swallowing and choking, you can gradually transition to warm and soft food, such as rice soup, vegetable soup, etc.;

3. You are not allowed to go out alone, ride a bicycle, drive a vehicle, or work at height within 24 hours after the examination. You are not allowed to make major decisions or sign important documents on the same day.

4. Avoid eating spicy food, smoking, drinking alcohol, and drinking strong tea for 1-2 days after the examination to reduce irritation to the injured surface of the gastric mucosa.

5. Mild abdominal pain and bloating after the examination is normal and is related to the injection of air during the examination. Don't be nervous.

6. If you experience severe abdominal pain, bloating, or blood in the stool, seek medical attention immediately.

About painless gastroenteroscopy and conventional gastroenteroscopy

What's the difference? Which one is better?

Friends who want to read it, please like it at the end of the article!

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Author

Zhang Duoduo, Class of 2020, five-year clinical medicine student at West China School of Clinical Medicine

Du Siyu, 2020, five-year clinical medicine student at West China School of Clinical Medicine

Tu Teng, 2020, five-year clinical medicine student at West China School of Clinical Medicine

Wang Boyao, Class of 2020, Five-year Clinical Medicine Program, West China School of Clinical Medicine

Sun Yuewen, Class of 2020, Five-year Clinical Medicine Program, West China School of Clinical Medicine

West China School of Clinical Medicine 2020 five-year clinical medicine leaf

Hao Ruwa, 2020, five-year clinical medicine student at West China School of Clinical Medicine

Experts who reviewed this article

References

【1】 Liu Xiaojie. Evaluation of the clinical application effects of painless gastroenteroscopy and conventional gastroenteroscopy[J]. China Medical Device Information, 2021, 27(12): 11-12, 82

【2】 Zheng Siyang. Clinical application and safety comparison of painless gastroenteroscopy and conventional gastroenteroscopy[J]. Chinese Medical Device Information, 2023, 29(8): 147-150. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-6586.2023.08.048.

【3】 Min Han. Is it better to have a regular gastroscopy or a painless one?[J]. Jiangsu Health Care, 2021, (01): 26-27.

【4】 He Jie, Chen Wanqing, Li Zhaoshen, et al. Guidelines for screening, early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer in China (2022, Beijing)[J]. Chinese Journal of Oncology, 2022, 31(07): 488-527.

【5】 Chen Wanqing, Li Ni, Lan Ping et al. Guidelines for screening, early diagnosis and early treatment of colorectal cancer in China (2020, Beijing)[J]. Chinese Journal of Oncology, 2021, 30(01): 1-28.

【6】 Liao Zhuan, Sun Tao, Wu Hao, et al. Consensus on early gastric cancer screening and endoscopic diagnosis and treatment in China (April 2014, Changsha)[J]. Gastroenterology, 2014, 19(07): 408-427.

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