-Mechanisms controlling proliferation in cells weaken with advancing age, and cellular errors that have been made until that day accumulate.
– Cancer screening is performed in healthy individuals who do not have any complaints, and it is tried to catch the disease at an early stage before it spreads around. In this way, the disease can be treated more easily.
-Early diagnosis with screening allows some types of cancer today, but does not give an idea about others.
-Moreover, screening tests do not always show 100% cancer. It should never be forgotten that sometimes it may give findings as if it is present in non-cancer patients, and it may rarely miss some cancer cases.
– While early diagnosis of colorectal (large intestine) cancers in the digestive system can be made with screening tests, there is no accepted screening test for stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, oral cancers today.
Screening tests in Colorectal Cancer:
-Fat Occult Blood Test: With this test, a very small amount of blood that can only be observed under the microscope is investigated in the stool without the need for microscopic examination. It should be done once a year after the age of 50.
– Sigmoidoscopy: The rectum and sigmoid colon (lower parts of the colon) are viewed with a sigmoidoscope (lens and light) advanced through the rectum. With the accompanying apparatus, a tissue sample can also be taken and examined under a microscope. It should be applied once every five years after the age of 50.
– Barium Enema: A liquid called barium, which is visualized by radiological methods, is injected into the rectum. Barium coats the lower digestive tract, and the lower digestive tract is visualized by X-rays. It can be applied once every five years after the age of 50.
-Colonoscopy: It should be applied once every five years in people who have no risk after 50 years of age. Colonoscopy should be performed after any positive bowel and rectal test.
– Digital Rectal Examination
– Virtual Colonoscopy: It is the imaging of the colon with computed tomography.
– DNA Stool Test: The DNA of the cells in the stool is examined. Genetic changes here may be a sign of colorectal cancer.
If there are the following risk factors, these tests can be started at an earlier age or applied more frequently:
– If polyps have been detected in the intestines before,
– If there is a genetic predisposition,
-1. degree relatives have polyps or bowel cancer
-Have a chronic (long-term) bowel disease
