Colonoscopy is not as scary as you think! One colonoscopy may keep you worry-free for 5 or 10 years

Recently, a post on social media has attracted widespread attention. A 26-year-old young man named Xiao Li was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer shortly after his birthday. The first chemotherapy made him miserable and he felt extremely confused about the follow-up treatment. What is even more heartbreaking is that such tragedies are not uncommon. So, are we really helpless in the face of colon cancer? The answer is no. Colonoscopy, as an important means of early screening for colon cancer, can help us detect and prevent colon cancer in a timely manner, but it is misunderstood and ignored by many people.

Bowel cancer is fierce and silent

Intestinal cancer, a dreaded disease, ruthlessly kills countless people every year. In my country, the incidence and mortality of intestinal cancer remain high, and the incidence is getting younger.

The scary thing about colorectal cancer is its hidden nature. On the one hand, its early symptoms are not obvious, and patients often find it difficult to detect; on the other hand, due to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, many patients miss the opportunity for early treatment. Specifically, some common late-stage symptoms include abdominal pain, abnormal bowel movements (such as diarrhea or constipation), blood in the stool, abdominal masses, etc., which are not obvious in the early stages and are easily ignored or misunderstood by patients as other gastrointestinal problems. By the time the symptoms become obvious, the best time for treatment has often been missed. Therefore, early detection and early treatment are crucial for colorectal cancer patients.

Do a colonoscopy 5 years in advance and the risk of colorectal cancer will drop by more than 50%

So, how can we detect colorectal cancer early? The answer is - colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is a method of observing the intestinal mucosa through an endoscope, which can directly detect lesions and polyps in the intestine (painless colonoscopy is now available, which does not require intubation and anesthesia like traditional colonoscopy, so it is more comfortable and convenient). Through colonoscopy, doctors can detect the signs of colorectal cancer early and take targeted treatment measures.

Clinically, the occurrence of colorectal cancer is often a long process, and it takes 5-10 years from polyps to cancer. In this process, as long as we detect and remove polyps in time, we can effectively prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer. For details, please refer to this article we published previously:

Colorectal cancer is more common in people over 50 years old, so it is recommended that people around 45 years old undergo screening as early as possible. A study by the Stanford University team found that the risk of colorectal cancer decreased by more than 50% for people aged 45-49 who underwent colonoscopy for the first time. This means that early colonoscopy can greatly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, experts recommend adjusting the age threshold for colonoscopy to 45 years old in order to detect potential risks of colorectal cancer earlier. Li Zhaoshen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, also publicly called for: "People over 45 years old who have not had a colonoscopy should do one as soon as possible. One examination can prevent colorectal cancer for 5 to 10 years."

Before and after colonoscopy, these matters need to be paid attention to

Before and after the colonoscopy, we also need to pay attention to some important matters to ensure the smooth progress of the examination and the recovery of the body.

1. Preparation before the examination

First of all, dietary preparation is an important part before colonoscopy. Three days before the examination, we should choose easily digestible foods, such as porridge, noodles, etc., and avoid irritating foods such as high-fiber, high-fat, spicy, etc. On the day before the examination, we need to start eating liquid or semi-liquid foods, such as rice soup, juice, etc. This helps to empty the intestines and provide a better view for the examination.

Secondly, taking medicine is also a step that cannot be ignored before colonoscopy. According to the doctor's instructions, we need to take laxatives on time to empty the intestines. During the medication period, we should pay attention to observe the body's reactions. If abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and other discomfort occur, we should inform the doctor in time.

(II) Precautions after the inspection

After colonoscopy, patients may feel bloating and discomfort. This is normal and can be relieved by gently massaging the abdomen and walking slowly to promote intestinal peristalsis and exhaust.

In terms of diet, we can drink water and eat normally after a normal colonoscopy. But it should be noted that it is not recommended to eat immediately. You should wait until the gas in the colon is discharged and the bloating disappears before eating. If it is a painless colonoscopy, you need to resume eating about 4 hours after the anesthetic effect completely subsides. In the process of resuming diet, we should choose light and easily digestible food, and avoid spicy, greasy and other irritating foods.

In addition, colonoscopy is not a one-time thing, we still need to check regularly:

After the colonoscopy, if any abnormalities are found, such as polyps, etc., it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice for treatment and regular follow-up examinations. Generally speaking, single adenomas with a small diameter can be reviewed every 3 to 5 years. The specific review cycle should be determined based on the patient's condition and the doctor's advice.

For general physical examination patients, if no abnormalities are found, they can be re-examined every 5 to 10 years. However, if there is a change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, or bloody stool during this period, you should seek medical attention in time.

For people with a history of intestinal polyps or a family history of colorectal cancer, it is recommended to have a check-up every 3 to 5 years.