Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Thailand, following liver, lung, and breast cancers. Incidence rates for colorectal cancer are rising in both men and women.

There are five stages of colorectal cancer, starting from Stage 0 (early, non-invasive) to Stage 4 (advanced, metastatic). In early stages, colorectal cancer typically shows no symptoms; however, once symptoms appear, the disease is often in a more advanced stage.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer:

• Mucus or blood in stools
• Abdominal pain, cramping, or straining with incomplete bowel movements
• Narrow or pellet-like stools
• Changes in bowel habits, such as persistent constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Anemia (especially in cancers of the upper colon, where blood loss might not be visible in stools)
• Abdominal lumps
• Signs of bowel obstruction, such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, constipation, and inability to pass gas

Prevention and Early Detection Regular colorectal cancer screening can prevent the disease by allowing early removal of polyps before they become cancerous. Early detection of colorectal cancer significantly improves the likelihood of a full recovery, and screening is known to reduce colorectal cancer mortality rates.

High-Risk Groups for Colorectal Cancer:

• People over the age of 45 or 50 are at a higher risk.
• Individuals with close relatives who have had colorectal cancer should start screening 10 years before the age at which their relative was diagnosed or at age 40 (e.g., if a father was diagnosed at 45, the child should start screening at 35).
• Those with chronic inflammatory bowel disease
• Lifestyle factors such as low-fiber, high-fat diets, obesity, lack of exercise, chronic constipation, smoking, and alcohol consumption

Screening Methods:

1. Annual Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
2. Colonoscopy every 5–10 years
3. Computed Tomography Colonoscopy (CT Colonoscopy) every 5 years

Colonoscopy A colonoscopy is the most effective screening method for colorectal cancer. It allows for simultaneous treatment, such as polyp or tumor removal, biopsy, and stopping intestinal bleeding. During a colonoscopy, a special long, narrow tube with a camera is inserted through the rectum to examine the colon directly. The procedure is brief, and hospitalization is not required.




 

Source:
Vimut Hospital
ArokaGO - Colon Cancer Symptoms