Bodrum American Hospital General Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan, who stated that the incidence of colon cancer is 3rd in the world and in our country, said that early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.
Özdoğan, who stated that colon cancer ranks first among all gastrointestinal cancers, noted that the disease usually occurs at an advanced age, but the age of occurrence has started to decrease recently.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS POSSIBLE WITH COLONOSCOPY
Providing information about the disease, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan said, “Colon cancers occur on the left side of the large intestine and in the last 15 cm of the rectum. Colon cancer can cause symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, constipation, abdominal pain, bleeding from the anus or a feeling of not being able to empty completely in the toilet. This disease almost always develops from benign intestinal polyps at the beginning. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose it before it becomes cancerous or at a very early stage by making early diagnosis with screening. Again, for this reason, it is recommended that everyone who is 50 years old have a colonoscopy once. Those who have a history of colon cancer in their family should start having a colonoscopy at an earlier age. The risk of cancer can be eliminated by removing the polyps detected during colonoscopy screening.”
GET EXAMINED BY A SPECIALIST PHYSICIAN
Reminding that March is considered as colon cancer awareness month all over the world, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan continued his words as follows: “There have been significant advances in the treatment of colon cancer in the recent period. The vast majority of patients can now be treated to a significant extent using closed (laparoscopic or robotic) surgeries, chemotherapy, smart drugs and immunotherapy, and radiotherapy for tumors located in the rectum. March is considered as colon cancer awareness month all over the world. Screening is very important for these cancers, where full recovery is achieved with early diagnosis. You should definitely be examined by a specialist physician for screening and examination.”
