The rising cases of colon cancer among young adults are alarming. It is the fourth most dangerous type of cancer coming from the cancer family. In India, young adults are among the most common patients of Colorectal or colon cancer. According to Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) data released in 2020, India is witnessing a consistent rise in cases of colon cancer.
Thousands of colorectal cancer cases are registered every year in India. Even though the Indian population is enormous at over 1.3 billion people, the consistent growth of cancer cases in India is definitely worth looking over. Many youngsters ignore colon cancer symptoms at the early stages, only for the condition to develop into advanced cancer stages later. So, why should you opt for colon cancer screening? Because it can help save your life. So, let’s understand what colon cancer is, its symptoms, and the importance of colon cancer screening.
Colon Cancer is the growth of cells in the colon, a section of the large intestine. The first and longest segment of the big intestine is called the colon. Colon cancer can strike anyone at any age, but it usually strikes older persons. Usually, it starts as little cell clusters inside the colon called polyps. Although these polyps don't fall in the category of cancer, some may turn into one.
Colon cancer symptoms may vary depending on the person. In most cases, symptoms may go undetected due to no detection in its early stage. However, some of the common ones are:
Unfortunately, there are no specific findings on why young adults are diagnosed with colon cancer disease, especially the ones under age 35. Some medical experts feel that 15-20% of colon cases are due to genetic reasons, and others are due to lifestyle issues.
Understanding colon cancer causes is still underway. Besides, wrong diet and lifestyle schedules are significant contributors to the rising cases of colon cancer. Young adults with a hectic sedentary and busy lifestyle attract multiple health issues.
According to a 2023 study by the Delhi State Cancer Institute, there has been a concerning change in the graph of colon cancer cases, with a rise in cases reported among people between the ages of 31 and 40. The trend in question has been driven by lifestyle choices such as high-calorie diets, processed foods, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Widely referred to as the "silent killer", colon cancer is difficult to detect at the initial stage, which is why treatment is quite difficult. However, with the advancement in the medical field, colon cancer screening at home is now possible, which is one way of staying updated about the disease and its symptoms.
A full recovery from colorectal cancer is frequently possible with early identification. In the United States, there are currently over 1.4 million colorectal cancer survivors, and a big part of this success may be attributed to programmes for timely treatment, screening, and awareness.
Colon cancer screening helps to look for any cancer symptoms. There are different ways of screening and tests conducted. The overall goal is to:
Since younger adults are forced into a busy lifestyle, timely undergoing colon cancer screening is essential. If you have any family history of cancer, then you shouldn't think twice before undergoing the test.
All adults under the age of 45 must undergo the screening once. Since there are different options available, you can choose the one recommended by your doctor at MASSH.
Colonoscopy : With a colonoscopy, the surgeon can access the whole rectum and colon. The surgeon would insert a colonoscope, and a flexible tube to check for polyps or cancer. A physician may remove tissue, such as polyps, for analysis during this operation. Additionally, polyp removal can stop colorectal cancer.
Stool Tests: If you want to undergo a test for colon cancer without a colonoscopy, then a stool test is the best option. This laboratory test looks for blood clots in stool samples. The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) uses antibodies to identify blood in the stool, whereas the guaiac-fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) utilizes a chemical.
The FIT is combined with a test that looks for changed DNA in the faeces to create the FIT-DNA test. These tests don't need you to be sedated or empty your colon beforehand, but they can miss certain tumours and polyps. A positive result from the FIT test would indicate that a colonoscopy is necessary.
Sigmoidoscopy: Like a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy examines a smaller large intestine area. The invasive sigmoidoscopy procedure necessitates preparation, such as fasting, taking medication to cause diarrhoea, or using an enema to cleanse the colon.
This procedure is frequently less expensive and poses less hazards than a colonoscopy. It does not, however, assess the colon. A physician can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy in detail for each patient.
Stool DNA Tests: This test looks for cancer by analysing the DNA from a stool sample. It determines whether a colonoscopy is necessary based on alterations in DNA found in polyps and malignancies.
Double-contrast Barium Enema (DCBE): If you don't want to undergo the colonoscopy screening, DCBE is the option where an enema containing barium is administered to individuals; this helps the colon and rectum appear more prominent on x-rays. After that, a series of colon and rectum X-rays are obtained. Since a barium enema is less probable than a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or CT colonography to detect precancerous polyps, most clinicians advise against using it for screening purposes.
Colon Cancer can be life-threatening if early detection is ignored. Since there are several risk factors involved in this type of cancer, young adults need to be aware of it well. Early screening and treatment helped young adults to live healthy for long years. If you come across any symptoms, the best is to undergo colon cancer treatment in Delhi for the best result. So, if you are under the age of 40, check out MASSH to learn more about colon cancer screening, its risks, and treatment options. We specialize in minimally invasive surgeries that are safe for patients and offer quick recovery with minimal risks. Check out our website to learn more about colon cancer treatment at MASSH or visit us today.
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