Recounting the progression of his disease, Mr. Jason Maman living in the US (currently 50 years old) said that around March 3, he began to have abdominal pain and frequent bloody stools. This condition continued continuously for nearly a year afterward and gradually became more severe.
Thinking he had hemorrhoids and hoping the disease would go away on its own, even though he had unusual symptoms, he still delayed going to the doctor because he thought it was a waste of time and money.
By the end of 2019, when he could no longer endure the severe pain in his abdomen, Mr. Jason decided to go to the doctor and was diagnosed with the disease. colorectal cancer Stage 3 at age 45.
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When he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, Mr. Jason was extremely shocked. He shared: “I couldn't believe I had cancer. I also deeply regret not going to the doctor right away when my body started showing unusual signs. If I had detected it earlier, the colon tumor would not have progressed to an advanced stage."
Doctors instructed Mr. Jason to be hospitalized and treated immediately. Mr. Jason then had surgery to remove the tumor and placed an artificial colostomy. Mr. Jason also had to undergo 12 additional chemotherapy sessions and 33 radiation treatments.
After several years of treatment, Mr. Jason's health condition has now stabilized. His life has almost returned to normal.
“Through my own case, I also want to remind everyone to go see a doctor as soon as their body shows signs of abnormalities. The examination only takes 1-2 hours but it helps a lot in the treatment process," Mr. Jason said.
8 early warning signs of rectal cancer, absolutely do not ignore
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Stomachache
This is a common symptom in people with colon cancer. The pain is often unclear, sometimes severe, sometimes dull, similar to symptoms of colitis.
Prolonged digestive disorders
Colon cancer has manifestations in all parts of the digestive tract. Common signs include: heartburn, bloating, flatulence, indigestion, loss of appetite... This condition lasts a long time, causing the body to feel tired and lose weight.
Blood in stool
Blood in the stool is a common symptom of colon cancer, however many people confuse this symptom with hemorrhoids and let the disease develop for too long, making this condition increasingly serious.
Change your bowel habits
After colon tumors grow larger, they produce secretions (waste) that continuously irritate the intestines. This reaction causes the patient to have more urge to defecate. The more serious the disease, the more frequent bowel movements, thereby changing your daily bowel habits.
Passing small stools
If when you defecate, you see a lot of small stools, it may be a warning symptom of colon cancer. This symptom appears because some obstructions in the excretion process cause the shape of waste in the body to change. These obstructions may be swellings that form at the end of the large intestine.
Unusual weight loss
If your body suddenly loses weight if it's not due to exercise or diet, you should not ignore it. This is most likely a sign of cancer, especially cancer of the colon, stomach or other parts related to the digestive tract.
Fatigue and weakness
Fatigue caused by colon cancer is often related to anemia due to bloody stools. Besides, the patient also feels exhausted even when resting, and the body quickly weakens for unknown reasons.
Anal pain and difficulty controlling
When the tumor appears large in size, it will cause the anus to "stress" because it has to keep regular contractions. At this time, the anal sphincter is overloaded and weakened, leading to loss of control. At this stage, the patient will have more bloody stools and the disease will progress to a more serious level.
Who is at risk of colorectal cancer?
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Anyone can get colorectal cancer, however, the following people are at higher risk than normal, including:
– Patients are overweight, obese, and cannot control their weight. Among them, men have a higher risk of getting the disease.
– People who do not or rarely participate in physical exercise activities.
– Patients with an unscientific diet such as regularly eating greasy foods, foods high in saturated fat, etc.
– People who smoke or drink alcohol regularly also have a higher than normal risk of colon cancer and some other types of cancer.
– Patients over the age of 50.
– People with family members with a history of colon or rectal cancer or patients with a history of ulcerative colitis.
What to do to prevent colon cancer?
There is no way to completely prevent colorectal cancer. But doctors have come up with many ways for us to effectively prevent colorectal cancer, including:
– Limit eating fried foods and red meat
– Eat lots of foods high in fiber
– Limit alcoholic beverages
– Supplement adequate Vitamin D
– Exercise and exercise regularly
– Keep your weight in a balanced range
- No smoking
– Regular examination to screen for colorectal cancer.
