[Fat Bear Science] Looking back after pooping may reduce the risk of colon cancer

When it comes to poop, many people may feel very embarrassed...

But how many people pay attention to the frequency of bowel movements?

How many people will look back and pay attention to the appearance of their poop after defecation...

Today Fat Bear wants to remind you that poop contains a lot of information about whether your intestines are healthy.

I hope the following case can attract your attention~

I treated my bloody stools for more than a year as hemorrhoids, but ended up with colon cancer

Recently, Mr. Liu, 48, went to the Department of Gastroenterology at Chongqing Cancer Hospital for a checkup because of intermittent bleeding in his stool for more than a year. As a result, he was diagnosed with colon cancer after a colonoscopy. This result was undoubtedly difficult for Mr. Liu to accept and he was very upset because he had delayed the treatment.

One year ago, Mr. Liu first discovered that his stool was deformed and bleeding, and sometimes mucus was visible in the stool. He thought it was caused by hemorrhoids, so he often used hemorrhoid medication. After taking the medication, the symptoms of blood in the stool sometimes appeared and sometimes disappeared, and it seemed to have some effect, so Mr. Liu did not take it seriously. After a while, the symptoms of blood in the stool appeared again, so he took some medicine again.

"You should have paid attention to this earlier." The doctor told him that if he had paid attention to the abnormal stool earlier and received examination and treatment earlier, the prognosis would definitely be better.

Chen Weiqing, director and chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at our hospital, said that he hopes that readers who have read this WeChat message will learn to judge the condition of the intestines based on the nature, frequency, color, etc. of their stools.

For example, if there are changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, or more frequent bowel movements, it is best to go to the hospital for a rectal digital examination and colonoscopy to rule out the possibility of cancer.

Experts of this issue

Chen Weiqing

Chen Weiqing: Director of the Department of Gastroenterology, Chongqing Cancer Hospital, chief physician, doctor of medicine, and master's supervisor. He has in-depth research on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, severe pancreatitis, cirrhosis and its complications, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. He is particularly good at gastrointestinal, hepatopancreatic and other diseases and endoscopic diagnosis and interventional treatment. Clinic hours: Monday morning

Bowel cancer symptoms are similar to hemorrhoids and can be misdiagnosed

(Photo from the Internet)

Chen Weiqing said, "With the improvement of people's living standards, bad habits such as obesity, lack of exercise, long periods of sitting, smoking, heavy drinking, excessive intake of red meat or processed meat products, and insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables have not only increased people's risk of colorectal cancer, but also significantly lowered the average age of onset to around 45 years old, with most of them being young and middle-aged people between 30 and 40 years old."

In fact, colorectal cancer is not a malignant disease from the beginning. It takes 7-9 years for normal mucosa to develop into cancer. During this long period of time, it can be detected if regular examinations are carried out. However, due to embarrassment or fear of pain, few people take the initiative to accept digital rectal examinations, and even fewer accept colonoscopy examinations. In the past two decades, the incidence of colorectal cancer in the United States has dropped significantly and the survival rate has increased significantly, thanks to the fact that the U.S. medical insurance has included colonoscopy examinations in medical insurance reimbursement, and people over 45 years old routinely receive colonoscopy examinations.

"Since there are many similarities in the clinical manifestations of colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids, such as blood in the stool, a feeling of heaviness in the anus, and increased frequency of bowel movements, the most prominent similar symptom is blood in the stool. Therefore, about 50% of colorectal cancer patients were misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids in the early stages." Chen Weiqing said that this is because when the symptom of blood in the stool occurs, both patients and doctors may first consider hemorrhoids. Some patients go to pharmacies to buy hemorrhoid ointments for external use, or go to some clinics with simple conditions for treatment. Doctors often treat them as hemorrhoids due to lack of experience or incomplete examinations.

If the stool has the following 4 situations, you should check it early

How to observe the health of the intestines based on the condition of the stool? Chen Weiqing gave a detailed explanation.

Everyone has their own bowel habits, once or twice a day or once every 2-3 days, occasional diarrhea or constipation, but as long as it conforms to their daily routine, it is normal bowel movement. But when colorectal cancer occurs, bowel habits will change.

1. Changes in bowel movement frequency. Bowel movements that used to occur once a day may become two or three times a day, and symptoms such as incomplete bowel movements and a constant urge to go to the toilet may occur.

2. Constipation or diarrhea. Patients who usually have normal bowel movements or even diarrhea suddenly become constipated; or their bowel movements are usually dry but suddenly become watery or become dry.

3. The stool becomes thinner, or grooves appear in the shape of the stool.

4. Blood in the stool. The stool of patients with hemorrhoids contains blood, usually fresh blood, which is mostly caused by abrasions on the affected area during defecation. Most of the blood drips down with the stool, so it is not mixed with the stool, and there is no mucus. Blood in the stool of colorectal cancer is mainly a mixture of mucus, blood, and stool. The blood is usually dark red, and it is accompanied by changes in the nature of the stool, as well as abdominal pain, abdominal masses and other symptoms. "As long as there is abdominal discomfort and pain, local lumps, a feeling of tenesmus, changes in the nature and shape of the stool, such as from dry to thin, with mucus and fresh blood, or the stool is not formed, becomes thinner and flatter, etc., you should go to a specialist hospital for examination as soon as possible." Chen Weiqing said.

Five suggestions to effectively prevent colorectal cancer

In addition to learning to identify cancer by looking at stool, how can we effectively prevent the occurrence of colorectal cancer in daily life? Chen Weiqing gave three suggestions↓

First, we should try to avoid "three highs and one low" foods, that is, avoid excessive intake of high-fat, high-protein, high-calorie, low-fiber foods, and eat more vegetables and fruits rich in dietary fiber. Do not eat moldy peanuts, and eat less pickled kimchi, salted fish, sausages and other pickled and smoked products.

Second, develop good living habits, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, insist on exercise, and avoid sitting for long periods of time.

Third, pay close attention to changes in stool characteristics and bowel habits, and be sure to go to the hospital for a rectal digital examination and intestinal endoscopy, which can basically rule out colorectal cancer with an accuracy rate of over 80%.

Fourth, people over 45 years old should complete at least one colonoscopy.

Fifth, patients with familial polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. should complete colonoscopy examinations regularly as prescribed by their doctor.

Text/ Fat Bear Picture/ Online Reviewer/ Chen Weiqing

Original article, no reproduction without authorization

Chongqing Cancer Prevention and Treatment Science Popularization Base/Member of China Medical Self-media Alliance

Chongqing Science and Technology Commission Science Popularization Funding Project