Colorectal cancer startle

Common in people aged 50-60

The above data was collected by the Provincial General Hospital's Oncology Center during the period 2020-2023. However, these are only statistics from this hospital. In fact, there are many cases of colorectal cancer that have been referred to the Central level without being examined and treated at the Provincial General Hospital.

According to the Global Cancer Research Organization (Globocan) report, in 2022, colorectal cancer had 16,835 new cases in both sexes, accounting for 9.3% and ranking 4th out of 10 common cancers in Vietnam.

According to Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Oncology Center of the Provincial General Hospital, colorectal cancer in Hai Duong is still one of the common malignant diseases, accounting for a high rate and tending to get younger. The disease is common in people aged 50-60 (accounting for about 40-50%). However, the number of young patients aged 30-40 is also increasingly common. In 2023, the center received and treated a female patient from Tu Ky with colorectal cancer in her early 20s.

Colorectal cancer is the result of cancer cells forming in the lining of the colon or rectum. These cancers have many things in common and are often referred to together as colorectal cancer. The disease usually begins as a benign growth known as a polyp, which over 3-5 years can gradually turn into cancer if not detected and removed promptly.

Colorectal cancer is divided into four stages. Higher stages mean the cancer is more serious and the prognosis is worse. Patients with stage 1 cancer have a 5-year survival rate of about 90%, while this rate drops to less than 10% for stage 4 tumors.

A survey of patients being treated for colorectal cancer at the Oncology Center of Hai Duong General Hospital showed that before being diagnosed, they often felt tired, had abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation or alternating loose stools, changes in stool shape (small, flat), bloody stools...

There are even patients who have only one symptom. Ms. TTH (38 years old, from Tu Ky) is being treated for colorectal cancer at the above center and shared: "My body is almost normal, no weight loss, no fatigue, good sleep and appetite. The only difference is that I saw blood in my stool, so I went to the doctor and found out that I had stage 2 cancer."

Change bad habits

Studies have shown that people with inflammatory bowel disease, colon polyps, a family history of colorectal cancer... are at risk of developing the disease. In addition, people who eat unscientifically, eat a lot of red or processed meat, abuse alcohol, are sedentary, smoke cigarettes, tobacco, eat few green vegetables, drink little water... are also at high risk of developing colorectal cancer. This partly explains why the rate of this cancer in men is higher than in women.

Mr. D.D.X. (64 years old, from Nam Sach) discovered he had stage 4 colorectal cancer a few months ago. "I drink alcohol three times a day, half a large glass each time. I eat few green vegetables. At the beginning of the year, I noticed that my digestive system had problems, so it was too late to go to the doctor," Mr. X. said sadly.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, the best way to prevent all types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, is for each person to be aware of "changing bad habits" above. Building a diet with lots of green vegetables, fresh fruits, supplementing vitamins, and controlling fat intake can prevent the risk of disease. It is necessary to get enough sleep, drink enough water, and maintain daily exercise and sports.

Like many other cancers, colorectal cancer is very dangerous, not only taking the lives of loved ones but also causing the economy of many families to become exhausted. The most important measure is to maintain regular health check-ups 1-2 times/year to be detected and treated promptly. Especially when there are signs such as abdominal pain, bloody stools or bowel disorders, anemia of unknown cause, a colonoscopy is needed to diagnose the disease. For colorectal cancer, screening is even more important because in the early stages, patients often do not have any symptoms.

Currently, colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy is very effective and popular. People at high risk of colorectal cancer need a complete colonoscopy. "If a family has a relative with a history of colorectal cancer or polyps, the remaining members need to be screened for cancer, because this disease has a genetic factor," Dr. Huong emphasized.