The Medical City Observes Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March is Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month. This is an important campaign as colorectal cancer (CRC) is
the third most common cancer among Filipinos. Breast and lung cancers are more
prevalent in the Philippines.
As The Medical City aims to be
at the forefront in the fight against colorectal cancer, they recently hold a forum on colorectal and other types of cancer with speakers like Dr. Beatriz Tiangco and Rep. Angelina Helen Tan, MD - Chairperson House Committee on Health and the Principal Author of the Universal Healthcare whuch was recently approved into Law. She also tackled the Philhealth Z Benefit Package
- Colorectal Cancer now being offered by The Medical City.
This cancer is
preventable, treatable, and beatable. CRC screening can save lives, but not
that many people are being screened. One of the advocate of cancer prevention Dr. Atenodoro Marciano "Jun" Ruiz Jr, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine in
Gastroenterology and a consultant at The Medical City in Pasig believe that we
should continue to educate the general public and mobilize the health community
to beat colorectal cancer.
Almost all of these cancers
start as abnormal growths in the lining of the colon and rectum called polyps.
These polyps grow slowly and take around 10 years for some polyps to develop
into cancer. Not all polyps progress to cancer. The removal of these polyps
reduces the risk of developing cancer.
These polyps and occasionally
early cancer do not cause complaints, like rectal bleeding, constipation, and abdominal
pain that are experienced by patients in later stages of cancer.
RISK FACTORS FOR COLORECTAL
CANCER
The common
individual-specific factors that increase risk for cancer in the colon and
rectum are:
1. age greater than 50
2. personal history of colorectal cancer or
advanced polyps
3. family
history of cancer in the colon and rectum
Age >50 is the most common
risk factor for this cancer, as 90% of occur after the age of 50. A family
history of a first-degree relative with CRC is increased two to three-fold.
There are also lifestyle
habits that can be modified that likely contribute to the formation of this
cancer:
1. cigarette smoking
2. alcohol consumption
3. obesity
4. a diet that has high saturated fat, low
fiber, and high red meat consumption
Living a healthy lifestyle by
avoiding smoking, not consuming excessive alcohol, regular exercise, and eating
the right food can lower your risk for cancer in the colon and rectum.
BE SCREENED
In several countries, CRC
screening is recommended for people starting the age of 50 years. Screening at
an earlier age, usually at 40, is advocated in first-degree relatives of
patients with colorectal cancer, and in those with other additional risk
factors.
The gold standard for CRC
screening is a colonoscopy as it can detect and remove early lesions like
polyps. The procedure involves a flexible fiberoptic scope with a camera that
is inserted through the rectum and is carefully advanced to visualize the colon
under mild anesthesia. However, it is an invasive test and has low potential to
cause complications.
Some patients may not want to
have an invasive test or may find the cost of a colonoscopy expensive. A stool
test called the Fecal Immunochemical test (FIT) is a good screening
alternative. FIT detects only human blood and is specific for bleeding in the
colon. The test is repeated every year if the initial test is negative. If the
test is positive, a colonoscopy is needed to rule out the presence of cancer.
As a gastroenterologist who
advocates CRC screening, I recommend a screening colonoscopy in persons between
50 to 75 years of age who are healthy and in whom the complications are low. If
the patient does not want to start with a colonoscopy, I suggest starting with
FIT. After a discussion with his physician, the patient can choose his
preferred screening test.
By undergoing either method
of CRC screening, we would be able to beat colorectal cancer.
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