Spain is estimated to have more than 40,000 new cases Colorectal cancer every year doing it second most common tumor in men and women. However, despite the high incidence, early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly improve the chances of survival.
Doctor Enrique Aykart is Head of the Department of General and Digestive Surgery at the Quironsalud Campo de Gibraltar Hospital, located in Los Barrios, which defines colorectal cancer as “a type of cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. This is the degeneration of tissues that usually originate from polyps that arise in the colon, which, when degenerated, transform into malignant cells, and from there a tumor develops. It has been established that between 8 and 10 years pass from the formation of a polyp to the occurrence of colon cancer, and hence the importance of preventing colorectal cancer.”
This type of cancer it doesn’t give many symptoms patients suffering from it; and if they do appear, they usually appear late. “We can detect some symptoms such as bleeding in stoolchanging bowel habits when these patients experience recurrent diarrhea or anal mucus; or, conversely, produces constipationThis occurs when the tumor has grown so large that it partially or completely blocks the intestines. In later stages, patients may also experience weight loss for no good reason, stomach pain or even anemia, due to this gradual blood loss. Despite all this and the nature of these symptoms, we insist so much on the importance of preventionsays Dr. Eikart.
There is an opinion that the appearance of this type of tumor is mainly due to genetic factors, direct relatives affected by this. “It is true that genetics have an influence, but with colorectal cancer, for example, a genetic link exists in less than 5% of cases. Thus, the remaining 95% are patients who become ill due to factors external to their family history. Although it is recommended to screen relatives of patients with colon cancer due to familial polyposis at a very early age, the most common cases are observed in the general population and disproportionately affect patients. between 50 and 70 yearsbut, unfortunately, we see this more often and at a younger age,” says the doctor.
How can we prevent colorectal cancer? In this regard, the specialist Quironsalud Campo de Gibraltar focuses “mainly on food education and in acceptance Healthy Habits. In third world countries they eat lots of fiberand therefore the incidence of colorectal cancer is much lower than in Western countries where we typically eat low fiber foods. It is recommended to maintain a diet rich in fiber and low in processed and red meat. It is also necessary to eradicate bad habits such as drinking alcohol and toxic products such as tobacco. And, of course, lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly.”
It is important for people aged 50 and older to get tested. screening tests It is also recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of contracting this disease. “From the age of 50, we recommend colonoscopy, a test that not only determines whether you have cancer or not; But if polyps are found, they can be removed immediately and thus prevent the development of this type of tumor in the future,” says Enrique Aicart.
Colorectal cancer is a serious disease, but with early detection and appropriate treatment there is a good chance of beating it. When such a diagnosis is made, the method of action “when we talk about colon cancer is surgery and then, depending on the stage of the tumor, the procedure will be like this: chemotherapy. For rectal cancer, there is one more addition: sometimes you have to give radiation therapy in addition to chemotherapy. And according to the staging that is performed before the patient’s surgery, depending on the condition, it is sometimes necessary to prescribe neoadjuvant treatment, that is, simultaneously prescribe radiation therapy and chemotherapy. And after this treatment, which can last about two months, you will be prescribed surgical treatment, which will consist of resection of the part of the intestine where the tumor is located.”