Colon cancer: diagnosed at an early stage, can be prevented in 90% of cases

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor that develops in the large intestine, consisting of the colon and rectum. Most cancers come from a silent mucosal lesion called polyps. These polyps have slow growth and, detected early, can be removed and thus prevent the development of cancer.

Early detection is also important when the patient has colon cancer because the cure rate is 90% early. On the other hand, when the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, the chances of recovery decrease to 60% or less. .

According to estimates by INC^[1]about 13,000 new cases are detected each year in Argentina. It must be remembered that 75% of them do not have a family history and that digestive symptoms are usually late. Therefore, you should not expect to have symptoms to perform the medical consultation.. Maintaining certain lifestyle habits can prevent the development of this disease.

For early diagnosis and prevention, a colonoscopy is recommended after 50 years because, at this age, the risks of developing the disease increase.

In this context, Dr. Christian Sánchez, head of the endoscopy department at Gedyt, mentions certain habits that help prevent the appearance of polyps in the large intestine and thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. Its implementation can be expensive at first, but with a little consistency, it can be badimilated in a short time and thus contribute to a healthier life.

Sánchez emphasizes that "Lifestyle and genetics influence colon cancer. There is a clear relationship between obesity and the risk of suffering from this disease. Diets rich in red and low-fiber meat are also risk factors. With regard to genetics, it has been shown that first-year (parents or siblings) and second-grade (grandparents or uncles) family members are at a higher risk of polyps and cancer than population in general. Therefore, in these cases, it is advisable to perform colonoscopy before the age of 50 years. In fact, if you have a family history, we suggest consulting a gastroenterologist 10 years before the reference case. In other words, the age indicated to consult the doctor would be 10 years earlier than that of the parent (1st or 2nd degree) at the time the disease was detected, and the frequency of the visit would be every 5 years ".

For this reason, in March and as part of March 31, World Disease Day, Gedyt Foundation (Diagnostic and therapeutic gastroenterology) launches Awareness campaign "Prevent living, early detection saves lives" which aims to raise awareness about this type of cancer, the need for early detection and the importance of periodic checks. In this context, the entire community is expected to wear blue on March 28 and share it on social networks with the hashtag #VestiteDeAzul; in support of the fight against colon cancer.

By Dr. Christian Sánchez

Gastroenterologist and endoscopist.

Head of Endoscopy at Gedyt.

M.N. 98,403