Generally, a cancer It originates when cells begin to grow out of control in some part of the body, and usually spread to one or more places in the body. In most cases, cancer cells they form a tumor.
Currently the colon cancer registers the third place of incidence in the Mexican population; and tops the list of mortality among cancers, even above those of the prostate and breast, according to figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancerof the World Health Organization (WHO).
Also, records of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) point out that the cases of colon cancer treated in early stages report about 90% recovery.
Jose Miguel RodriguezProduct Manager of the Critical Care Division of Kabla, warns of the importance of detecting this disease in time, because according to the WHOworldwide about 48% of patients die due to not having timely care.
“The fundamental thing in these cases is prevention. Much of this comes from the efficient and widespread use of state-of-the-art devices that allow earlier and, above all, much more precise detection. One of the great barriers to attending the colon cancer it is when the diagnosis is reached in advanced moments, in which the situation is practically irreversible”, indicated the director of Kabla.
“Colon cancer has become a public health problem due to these paradoxes: on the one hand, it is easily treated in early stages of detection; on the other, and this is also fundamental, prevention does not go beyond relatively simple habits to implement in daily life, especially to reduce the risk factors that affect this type of cancer”.
Risk factor’s
According to Kabla, these are some of the risk factors that enhance the presence of malignant colorectal tumors:
- A high-fat, low-fiber diet.
- High consumption of red meat and sausages.
- Sedentary life.
- Obesity.
- Smoking and alcohol consumption in excess.
What are the symptoms?
According to IMSS, in its initial stage, colon cancer does not present symptoms and later they vary depending on its location. But in a more advanced state, it presents itself:
- Change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or reduction in the diameter of the stool (stool) for several days.
- Sensation that you need to defecate and that does not go away after doing so.
- Rectal bleeding.
- Dark stool color or fresh blood in the stool (although the stool is often normal in color).
- Cramps or abdominal pain.
- Soft spot.
- Tiredness.
- Unexplained weight loss.
If you present any of them, you should go to the specialist to carry out the diagnosis and necessary treatment.
According to the IMSS, more than 70% of patients with colon cancer are treated in advanced stages, therefore it is necessary to carry out periodic tests for their timely detection.
“It is also necessary to incorporate a culture of medical review and diagnostic tests. In the case of colon cancer, it is necessary to look for tests with a high range of effectiveness that detect occult blood in feces, as well as studies of Calprotectin Y lactoferrinto obtain an investigation that complements the colonoscopy”, points out Jose Miguel Rodriguez.
Fecal occult blood tests are used primarily for the diagnosis of colonic neoplasmsLike cancer in its early stages. Since these tests detect elevated hemoglobin levels, they are highly reliable and avoid false positives or false negatives”, he concludes.