Colorectal Cancer is one of the common cancers. The increasing popularity of western lifestyles and an ageing population accelerates the incidence rate of colorectal cancer by 4.2% each year, but the ratio for early diagnosis is less than 10%.The latest data shows that the domestic incidence rate of colorectal cancer has an increasing trend while the age of people suffering from colorectal cancer is getting younger. The population of colorectal cancer patients is getting bigger and has the potential to exceed the population of lung cancer patients in cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Early colorectal cancer has a high recovery rate
Generally speaking, if patients with early-stage colorectal cancer go to the hospital for treatment and treatment in time, their health can be restored quickly. According to current clinical statistics, the 5-year survival rate of early-stage colorectal cancer after treatment can reach90%.And 5 years after surgery, if the colorectal cancer does not recur or metastasize, it can be considered a clinical recovery to health.
Unfortunately, most of the colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer, and the recovery rate isless than 50%. The treatment process is extremely painful, and the high cost will also cause a huge burden on the family. Even after recovery, quality of life will decline. Many patients have lost their anuses and can only solve their defecation problems through enterostomy treatment, where a fecal bag is hung on the abdomen.
Researchers have found that in one Grade A hospital in China that has carried out colonoscopy over 4000 times every year, colorectal cancer treatment over 1000 times but less than 200 diagnosed cases are by colonoscopy. Instead, the colonoscopy had spotted more colon polyp patients than colorectal cancer patients.Over 90% of the colorectal cancer patients that had received the treatment are diagnosed with developing colorectal cancer. What is more shocking is that 80%of patients are initially misdiagnosed with benign conditions such as hemorrhoids or colitis. Some even undergo treatment for hemorrhoids,resulting in delays in receiving the most effective treatment.Detecting colorectal cancer three months earlier and receiving appropriate treatment can significantly improve the chances of recovery, reduce treatment costs, alleviate suffering, and extend life expectancy.
Subtle Symptoms In The Early Stage
Even though the symptoms of colorectal cancer are subtle in the early stage, you should be alert if you have the following conditions.
- 1. Blood in the stool
Blood in the stool is the earliest symptom of colorectal cancer, but blood in the stool is not a specific symptom of colorectal cancer. Many diseases such as internal hemorrhoids, intestinal polyps, ulcerative colitis, and intestinal tuberculosis also have symptoms of blood in the stool. A small amount of bleeding is not easy to detect with the naked eye. When there is a large amount of blood in the stool and the blood is bright red, if medication is ineffective, you should be alert to colorectal cancer. - 2. Mucus, pus, and black stool
Cancerous tumour at anal canal, rectum, sigmoid colon comes with different amounts of mucus or pus as it is close to the anus. Cancerous tumour in the ascending colon may cause black stool. - 3. Irregular bowel habits
The frequency of stool may increase, as many as eight or nine times a day, passing very little stool, constipation, diarrhoea, drooping sensation in the anus etc. - 4. Change in forms of stool
Colorectal cancer at the end of the rectum or in anal canal may shrink, squeeze, leave marks on the stool. Seek medical assistance if the condition persists.
Conduct Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy Regularly
The characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract make gastrointestinal diseases undetectable in regular body check tests such as blood test, ultrasound scanning, electrocardiography (ECG), computed tomography (CT), and MRI etc. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are the most important methods for gastrointestinal examination and effective screening of colorectal cancer.
It is very important to conduct gastroscopy and colonoscopy regularly. Researchers have found that only30%-40%of those who have a positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) result will conduct a colonoscopy for further investigation.60%-70%of people who receive a positive initial screening result choose not to undergo further testing due to various concerns. However, if a colonoscopy is not performed promptly, patients with early-stage colorectal cancer may easily progress to the intermediate or advanced stages, resulting in poorer treatment outcomes and prognosis.
Disclaimer: Photos are extracted from the Internet, please contact us if copyright infringement has occurred. The above information is for reference only. Seek medical assistance immediately if you feel unwell.
