Self tests for colon cancer will be available from June according to the plan of the Ministry of Health.
This is a special test that detects the presence of blood in the stool. The specific self-test will be granted free of charge within the framework of the free preventive control program of the Ministry of Health and will be given to all citizens between the ages of 50 and 70, who will be notified by sms as reported by ERT.
Four early warning signs
Research brings to light the four most critical warning signs of possible disease, creating a … fast track to diagnosis and treatment without costly delays.
Our country, unfortunately, is no exception to this rule. According to the latest WHO data (Globalcan), in 2020, 64,530 new cases of cancer were recorded in Greece. Of these, 12.2% were colon cancer, being the third leading cause of disease in both sexes and the second leading cause of death from cancer.
Even more worryingly, this type of cancer is affecting people even under the age of 50, with the data prompting health experts to sound the alarm as they highlight that this type of cancer is not just limited to the elderly.
And they insist that spotting the early symptoms of the disease in this age group is critical, as early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in the outcome of cases. Under these circumstances, the conclusions of researchers from the University of Washington, which limit the suspicious symptoms to just four, are an important guide or otherwise a “red flag” that should motivate those who experience them to immediately seek medical advice.
Early symptoms
More specifically, their findings published last week in the scientific journal “Journal of the National Cancer Institute” and concerning the warning signs are as follows:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea.
It is important to point out that the University of Washington research team, in order to reach these conclusions, combed through the health insurance information of at least 5,000 people with early-onset colon cancer, using the IBM MarketScan commercial database. In the process, when the scientists looked at signs and symptoms before diagnosis, they found four specific symptoms that indicate an increased risk of colon cancer in people under 50.
From the data of the same study, it follows that in approximately 19% of people with early-onset colon cancer, the first symptoms appeared between three months and two years before the diagnosis. However, about 49% noticed the first symptom within three months before diagnosis.
In addition, people who experienced one symptom had almost twice the risk of being diagnosed with that cancer, while those who experienced two symptoms increased the risk by more than 3.5 times. In addition, people who had three or more symptoms had a 6.5 times higher risk.
The scientists also found that rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia are the most alarming signs, so those who experience them should not let time pass but see a doctor immediately.
“Given that the majority of cases of early-onset colon cancer are, and will continue to be, diagnosed, after the presentation of symptoms it is important to recognize these signs early and consequently perform a diagnostic test as soon as possible,” he notes in a related press release. lead researcher and associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Yin Cao.
Environment – nutrition
But another question that reasonably arises is why more and more people under the age of 50 are getting sick. In a related article from the Yale School of Medicine, it is noted that the current increase in the early onset of the disease is likely to be due (and) to environmental and nutritional factors, which scientists have yet to identify.
In any case, however, they advise young adults to adopt a healthier lifestyle, thus avoiding bad habits that may contribute to the development of the disease.
Who are they; Smoking, alcohol and eating processed foods. On the contrary, maintaining a healthy weight and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables are sure to have significant health benefits.
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