Colon Cancer Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Colon Cancer Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention 

Recent studies have shown that the incidence of colon cancer among individuals aged 20 to 49 in South Korea is 12.9 per 100,000 people, making it the highest among 42 surveyed countries. Young people often do not consider colon cancer even when they experience gastrointestinal symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis.

 

 

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

When colon cancer occurs, symptoms such as diarrhea, blood in stools, weight loss, thinner stool consistency, constipation, abdominal pain, and other signs may appear.

Young people may dismiss diarrhea or constipation as fatigue, excessive drinking, or overeating, but if these symptoms are frequent, it's important to consider the possibility of colon cancer.

Especially if there is a family history of colon cancer, it’s essential to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and seek medical attention if any unusual symptoms arise, even if one feels generally healthy. While the incidence of familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer is low, younger people are more likely to be affected.

 

Treatment of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer can often be treated with endoscopy if detected early, and survival rates are high. Stage 1 colon cancer has a relative 5-year survival rate of approximately 93.9%, indicating a good prognosis. If there are no risk factors like lymphovascular invasion and the cancer is limited to the colon mucosa or has very shallow submucosal invasion, it can be treated with endoscopic resection alone.

For Stage 2 and 3 colon cancer, the affected area must be completely excised through surgery. Treatment methods for Stage 4 colon cancer vary significantly depending on the extent of the cancer, the location, and the number of metastases. Sometimes, people may think treatment is futile for Stage 4 cancer, but with comprehensive treatment, the 5-year survival rate can still be raised to 40%.

 

How to Prevent Colon Cancer

Reports indicate that a higher total caloric intake, regardless of food type, increases the risk of colon cancer, so it’s best to eat in moderation.

Research has shown that red meats, such as beef, pork, and lamb, increase the likelihood of colon cancer, so it’s advisable to consume fish and chicken instead of processed meats or red meats.

Consuming a high amount of fiber and calcium can also be beneficial.

The risk of colorectal cancer increases with lower levels of physical activity, so individuals in sedentary office jobs should try to increase their physical activity through exercise.

Alcohol consumption, particularly in men, increases the risk of colorectal cancer, and smoking is known to increase the risk of both colorectal adenomas and colon cancer. Therefore, abstaining from alcohol and quitting smoking are important steps in preventing colon cancer.