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Colorectal cancer is one of the more insidious cancers because it develops without symptoms for a long time. It may take up to 10 years for the first symptoms to appear.

Malignantcancercolon cancer is the second most common cancer in Europe. In Poland, it is diagnosed annually in 12 thousand. people, and 8.5 thousand. dies because of it. Colon cancer affects both men and women equally. As much as 90 percent cases are found in people over 50 years of age.

Colorectal canceris a malignant growth of the mucosa that can develop in any part of the 150 cm long colon and about 10 cm of the rectum. Most cases of this cancer develop from benign growths that resemble polyps in the early stages. Most of them can be removed without any problems. Since they do not cause any ailments, hardly anyone reports to a doctor because of them. Thus, imperceptibly, a life-threatening and he alth-threatening cancer may develop.

I have a hereditary burden - many people in the family have died of colorectal cancer

Piotr Lornec (48) consulted an oncologist after reading in a newspaper the information that colorectal cancer may be a hereditary cancer. Fortunately, he knew his family's he alth history well, where cancer had killed many of his relatives.

- After the first meeting with the oncologist, I was referred for a colonoscopy - he says. - I was afraid of this study, because of course I read horrible descriptions on the Internet. In fact, it wasn't that bad. Already during the examination, it turned out that I have several polyps in the large intestine. They were removed and sent for histopathological examination. Only one had a few cancer cells. After further studies, it turned out that there was no need for additional treatment in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. I can say that I made it at the last minute. Now I am under the constant care of a genetic clinic at the Oncology Center. I do my research regularly and I hope it will all end there. But I must admit that there is fear in me, which makes me look at life differently and no longer disregard my he alth. That is why I encourage everyone to undergo preventive examinations. They saved my life.

Characteristics of bowel cancerfat

Usually, cancer arises from polyps (benign adenomas) that form on the inner walls of the intestine. The transformation of an adenoma into a tumor takes about 10 years and occurs as a result of a series of genetic mutations occurring in individual cells of he althy tissue. In the early stages, the disease develops without giving any signals.

Risk factors for colorectal cancer

Particular caution should be exercised by people whose relatives have suffered from cancer, because 2-4 percent. all illnesses have a genetic basis. Getting sick is also favored by:

  • obesity and overweight
  • low-fruit and vegetable diet
  • eating red meat frequently, e.g. beef.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer

Anxiety should arouse:

  • annoying constipation - when polyps inside the intestine grow, its internal cross-section decreases
  • change in bowel habits that cannot be explained by a change in diet or lifestyle
  • diarrhea combined with large amounts of gas that last for many weeks
  • anemia, which is felt as weakness, lack of previous fitness, greater susceptibility to fatigue
  • pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, discomfort
  • nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
  • feeling of incomplete bowel movement
  • rectal bleeding - traces of blood on paper or underwear.

Colorectal cancer diagnosis

  • Per rectum examination (through the rectum) is one of the basic diagnostic methods. The doctor uses a finger to examine the condition of the intestine, which makes it possible to detect the sources of bleeding and neoplastic nodules. The test detects almost 1/3 of colorectal cancers.
  • Kolonoscopyis an examination of the entire large intestine that should be performed by every person (regardless of gender) aged 50 or over. This is the only way to detect all precancerous changes, e.g. polyps.
  • Contrast infusion (taking a series of radiographs of the large intestine after administering liquid contrast to the intestine and filling it with air).
  • Anoscopy - endoscopy of the anal canal and rectal tip.
  • Rectoscopy - rectal endoscopy.
  • Rectoromanoscopy - rectoscopy extended to the final segment of the sigmoid colon, i.e. the lower segment of the large intestine just in front of the rectum.
  • Sigmoidoscopy - endoscopy of the end of the large intestine with the sigmoid colon.
  • Sometimes a virtual colonoscopy is performed, i.e. a radiological computed tomography of the intestine filled with air.
Important

Go toprophylactic examination

As part of the National Program for Combating Cancer Diseases, for several years now, research into the early detection of colorectal cancer - colonoscopy has been carried out throughout Poland, financed by the National He alth Fund.

\ Anyone aged 50 or over can apply for the examination. You need to prepare the intestine for it (for this you need to drink 4 liters of a special cleansing liquid). The examination can be performed (for a fee) under general anesthesia. It is better to come to them with the guardian, because you may feel bad after him.

Treatment of colorectal cancer

In the case of colorectal cancer in the lower segment ( rectal cancer ), the so-called combined treatment, i.e. irradiation of the changed places, and then their operation. It gives the best chance of successful therapy and the preservation of the anal sphincter.

In the case of anal cancer, surgery is often not possible - then a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used. Drugs that delay the formation of new cancer cells, and thus prolong life in the advanced stages of the disease, are a chance for patients. Still, in the case of a disseminated form of the disease with multiple metastases, the chances of a complete recovery are slim.

In the case of multiple metastases, it is possible to extend life by using various types of chemotherapy, i.e. a set of drugs that kill all rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. This type of treatment is used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and after it to kill any cancer cells that have spread throughout the body (called 'adjuvant treatment') and also when it has spread to other organs. The use of chemotherapy before and after surgery increases the percentage of patients surviving 3 years without recurrence from 28% to 34%. Combined therapy with antibodies is the new standard. It involves chemotherapy with antibodies that act selectively only on cancer cells, without damaging he althy cells in the body.

Dramatic statistics in terms of 5-year survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Poland is one of the last places in Europe

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Category:

Oncology