The reluctance to go to the hospital with the fear of contracting the coronavirus, which has deeply affected our country for about a year, prevents the chance of early diagnosis in colon cancer. Colon cancer, which ranks third among the cancer types that cause the most deaths in both men and women in our country, is rapidly spreading due to unhealthy eating habits and inactivity, while not having regular screening programs increases the risk. Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine Head of Internal Diseases Department and Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün made a statement within the scope of Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March and World Colon Cancer Awareness Day on March 3; While emphasizing that colon cancer can be largely prevented by colonoscopy, he says that some misconceptions about colon cancer delay the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün talked about 6 common misconceptions about colon cancer and made important warnings and suggestions.
Colon cancer, which ranks third in deaths from cancer in both women and men in our country, is a type of cancer that can be prevented when the rules are followed and can be cured when diagnosed early thanks to colonoscopy. Because cancer develops on the basis of polyps at a rate of 98 percent, and removal of polyps through colonoscopy prevents cancer. On the other hand, refraining from going to hospitals for fear of contracting coronavirus, especially during the pandemic process, and postponing colonoscopy can lead to the diagnosis of colon cancer at an advanced stage! Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine Head of Internal Diseases Department and Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün stated that 375,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and 170 thousand people die from the disease every year in Europe and said, “A significant portion of healthy people aged 50 and over who should take part in the cancer screening program and those who will undergo colon cancer treatment and have control colonoscopy, They did not apply to the hospital for the last year due to the fear of Covid-19 contamination. This has increased the probability of encountering advanced colon cancer according to our experience and some publications. In a study conducted at the University of Bologna in Italy, delaying colon cancer screening by 4-6 months increases advanced colon cancer by 3 percent; A delay of more than 12 months increases this rate to 7 percent. However, it is unknown when the pandemic will leave us, and screening programs should definitely not be disrupted by taking very good measures against the coronavirus.” says.
6 misconceptions about colon cancer
Stating that there are some misconceptions about colon cancer in the society, Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün emphasizes that these false beliefs prevent the possibility of early diagnosis and cause the disease to reach an advanced stage. prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün explained these false beliefs and truths in society as follows;
Bleeding from the rectum indicates hemorrhoid disease, it should not be overlooked: WRONG!
FACT: Most of the patients are afraid of a bad disease and say, “I have hemorrhoids, I guess that’s the reason for bleeding.” He does not apply to a doctor with his rhetoric, he follows the advice of his neighbor and turns to alternative medicine. Sometimes, especially in young and chronically constipated patients, if there is hemorrhoids or fissures on examination, the physician attributes the bleeding to this condition. However, bleeding from the rectum may be a harbinger of a cancer or a large polyp. It definitely needs a detailed review.
This disease is genetic, there is no cancer in my family: FALSE!
FACT: 15 percent of cancers are genetically based. Having colon cancer in a person’s first-degree relative or having a familial colon polyposis increases the risk of developing cancer. However, people with no family history of cancer can also develop colon cancer. Recent publications recommend genetic screening of tumor tissue in non-familial colon cancers.
Prolonged constipation leads to cancer later: FALSE!
FACT: There is no information that chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome cause colon cancer. However, when colon cancer or a large polyp grows large enough to narrow the intestinal cavity, constipation, intestinal obstruction or rectal bleeding may occur. People whose bowel habits change in this direction should definitely see a gastroenterologist.
Colonoscopy is a very difficult and painful procedure, it can even be fatal! WRONG!
FACT: Colonoscopy is a very low risk procedure in expert hands. Perforation of the bowel or bleeding during colonoscopy is less than 1 in 1000. Before colonoscopy, the patient is evaluated in terms of comorbidities, and medications are adjusted. (For example; antibiotics, blood thinners, anti-diabetics, etc.) in patients with a changed heart valve, bowel cleansing is performed according to known diseases or body structure, the patient does not feel pain because the procedure is performed under deep sedation (sleep), and general anesthesia is used in the procedure, except for special cases. does not need to be applied.
Why would I have a colonoscopy when I have no complaints? WRONG!
FACT: The risk of developing colon cancer in a person’s lifetime is a 6 percent probability that cannot be underestimated. In other words, 1 out of every 18 people may develop colon cancer. It is known that colon polyps and colon cancer are more common in obese people and smokers, those who use alcohol regularly, those who eat processed food, those who have colon cancer in their family and those who do not exercise. However, with colonoscopy, the risk of death from colon cancer is reduced by 45 percent.
There are drugs that prevent colon cancer! WRONG!
TRUTH: Although a lot of work has been done on this subject, there is no clear result. Although some studies have mentioned the anti-cancer effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12, vitamin D, statins and aspirin, this effect has not been confirmed in large series. It is said that perhaps a marginal benefit can be obtained in those who use aspirin for other purposes. There is still a long way to go in this regard. It is best to eat a healthy and fiber-rich diet, exercise, avoid smoking and alcohol, and not gain weight.
It is possible to prevent colon cancer; but!
Colon cancer develops on the basis of polyps at a rate of 98 percent, and polyps with a diameter of over 15 mm are 1.5 times more likely to become cancerous than those with a diameter of less than 15 mm. Stating that removing polyps with colonoscopy prevents cancer, Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün; He says that today, almost all European countries carry out colon cancer screening programs based on various protocols, and in a study conducted in 16 European countries between 2000 and 2016, it was reported that the frequency of colorectal cancer decreased significantly, especially in countries that started the screening program early. Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün explains how colon cancer screenings are done: “Generally, in many countries, occult blood in the stool is used every year or every two years as a screening method. Some countries consider colonoscopy as the gold standard, which is a more sensitive but more costly method and allows the removal of polyps with precancerous lesions. With today’s technology, early colon cancers and polyps can be better recognized with artificial intelligence-based imaging systems. Although colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting polyps, the success of the procedure; It is determined by the experience of the person performing the colonoscopy and the compliance with the quality standards in the procedure.”
Who should be screened?
Emphasizing that the Covid-19 pandemic may continue for a long time, Prof. Dr. Nurdan Tözün said, “For this, by taking measures such as complying with the necessary precautions (mask, distance, cleaning) in pandemic conditions and getting the Covid-19 vaccine; Having a stool occult blood test or preferably a colonoscopy procedure seems to be the most effective and rational way to prevent colon cancer. So who should be screened?
- Generally, the screening age is considered to be 50 years for people in the average risk group. Screening is done with a sensitive method by looking for occult blood in the stool every 2 years and by applying colonoscopy to those who test positive. According to the findings, colonoscopy is repeated after 1-3-5 or 10 years if everything is normal. Although the termination age of the scan is 75, this period can be extended according to the individual.
- Due to the increase in early age colon cancer in recent years, it is recommended to start screening at the age of 45 or even 40.
- Screening of people with a first-degree relative with colon cancer or a familial polyposis syndrome should begin at an earlier age.
Source: (BHA) – Beyaz News Agency
