90% of colorectal cancer is already in the middle or late stages when it is discovered! How can it be detected early?

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the large intestine mucosa, including colon cancer and rectal cancer. The incidence rate is from high to low in the rectum, sigmoid colon, cecum, ascending colon, descending colon and transverse colon. In other words, the incidence rate is higher in the area close to the anus.

In my country, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer have risen to the third place among all malignant tumors. According to data from 2015, there are about 377,600 new cases and 191,100 deaths each year, an increase of about 4.2% each year, and the incidence rate rises rapidly from the age of 40.

Converted to a single day, there are about 1,033 confirmed cases and 524 deaths every day. About 85% of the patients are already in the middle and late stages when they are diagnosed, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 40%, while the 5-year survival rate of early-stage colorectal cancer is more than 90%. Therefore, early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment are the key to defeating the "demon".

1. The development of colorectal cancer is long and cannot be diagnosed simply by symptoms

Colorectal cancer is a "demon" that "hates the poor and loves the rich". Data show that the incidence rate in economically developed areas such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen continues to rise. It has become the second most common cancer and is even showing a trend of replacing lung cancer and becoming the new "king of cancer".

Although colorectal cancer is dangerous, it is recognized as a cancer that is easy to prevent, easy to detect early, and easy to treat!

The process of colorectal cancer is very simple. About 95% of colorectal cancers develop step by step from adenomatous intestinal polyps. This process is very long. Generally speaking, it takes 5 to 15 years from normal mucosa to polyps; it takes 5 to 15 years from the formation of adenomatous polyps, dysplasia, and then cancer. In other words, it takes at least 10 years from normal mucosa to cancer, and it may take more than 30 years at most. Therefore, there is plenty of time to discover and block it before it becomes cancerous!

Because there are generally no clinical symptoms in the early stages of the disease, only a small number of patients with intestinal polyps experience abnormalities such as bloody stools, mucus in stools, and abdominal pain. These symptoms lack specificity, and doctors may not be able to identify them as cancer early on.

Therefore, it is too risky and unreliable to detect early-stage colorectal cancer based on symptoms alone.

2. Reasons why relying solely on “signals” for early warning is unreliable

1. More than 80% of patients with polyps, atypical hyperplasia (precancerous) polyps, and polyps that have become cancerous have no symptoms. Even if there are symptoms, as mentioned above, they are easily ignored.

2. Once the so-called "early signals" circulated on the Internet appear, such as changes in bowel habits, thinner stools, blood in the stools, black stools, mucus in the stools, persistent abdominal pain, bloody stools, abdominal masses, weight loss, etc., it is no longer in the early stage, but in the middle and late stages.

3. Colonoscopy screening is very useful. It should be done before the age of 40 to nip colon cancer in the bud.

Adenomatous polyps are the culprit of colorectal cancer, and intestinal polyps are the culprit of intestinal cancer, or the infant stage of intestinal cancer. Discovering intestinal polyps and "killing" them is to kill intestinal cancer in the cradle.

Adenomatous polyps have a high probability of becoming malignant. Theoretically, given enough time, they will 100% become cancerous. Therefore, gastroenterologists call them "time bombs."

Adenomatous polyps will not disappear on their own, and it is difficult to eliminate them with drugs. If not treated in time, they can slowly grow and have a high probability of becoming cancerous. Inflammatory polyps are relatively safe. Sometimes very small inflammatory polyps will disappear on their own, but inflammatory polyps are stimulated by inflammation for a long time and may also develop into adenomas. Therefore, when polyps are found during colonoscopy, they should be removed endoscopically. Early cancer lesions can be cured with minimally invasive methods, and the 5-year survival rate can reach 90%~100%.

Endoscopic polyp removal

As a screening method, colonoscopy is the only means of discovery. It is a flexible tube with a camera that can be inserted into the large intestine and can see from the anus to the ileocecal region. Doctors can clearly see the tiny lesions of the intestinal mucosa. With the functions of magnification, staining, and sampling, the nature of polyps can be determined. Since polyps and colorectal cancer basically have no symptoms, it is recommended that adults over 40 years old must have a colonoscopy in time.

Colonoscopy diagram

In addition, high-risk groups, such as those with a family history of digestive tract tumors, smoking and drinking habits, obesity, lack of exercise, long-term sitting, staying up late, inflammatory bowel disease, and long-term intestinal symptoms, should be screened in advance. For those with bowel habits, changes in stool characteristics, mucus stool, black stool, bloody stool, abdominal pain and other symptoms, immediate colonoscopy is needed without delay.

Warm reminder: most people can tolerate ordinary colonoscopy. But if you are very worried about the pain during the examination, you can choose painless colonoscopy, which is like sleeping and you will not remember it.

Source: Lao Du Talks About Health