Why do we need a colonoscopy

Many patients with gastrointestinal diseases need to undergo colonoscopy. If a patient's intestinal disease is serious, there is no way to see the patient's condition clearly without colonoscopy. Our intestines are divided into many parts, such as the cecum, large intestine, small intestine, duodenum, etc., so we need to know which part of the patient's intestine has a problem in order to prescribe the right medicine. So why do we need to do colonoscopy?

Why do you need a colonoscopy?

First you need to understand colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer includes colon cancer and rectal cancer. It is a highly prevalent tumor disease in China.

Eighty to ninety percent of colorectal cancers evolve from intestinal polyps. It usually takes five to ten years for adenomatous polyps to turn into cancer. How can we prevent polyps from turning into cancer?

Colonoscopy is the best way.

Data shows that 90% of colorectal cancer occurs in people aged 40 and above. This age has been decreasing in recent years, which means that colorectal cancer is becoming younger.

Abroad, one in 20 people suffers from colorectal cancer. If someone in a family has had colorectal cancer, the risk of cancer for relatives will be higher.

How to prevent colorectal cancer?

The early symptoms of colorectal cancer are not obvious and it is very easy to be missed.

Including blood in the stool, black stool, changes in bowel habits (sudden constipation or diarrhea, increased frequency, incomplete bowel movements, etc.), abdominal distension and pain, unexplained anemia, etc.

There are many factors that affect colorectal cancer, including smoking, excessive drinking, excessive intake of red meat and processed meat products, lack of physical activity, genetic factors, and other intestinal diseases.

To prevent colorectal cancer, you need to do the following:

1. Control your weight, quit smoking and drinking

2. Adjust your diet, reduce meat intake, and consume more high-fiber foods

3. Keep exercising regularly

4. Keep a good mood

How does colorectal cancer occur?

The specific cause of colorectal cancer is very complex. Most colorectal cancers are initially just a polyp and do not cause any symptoms.

Polyps are a type of tumor-like tissue proliferation. Some are benign polyps and will not turn into cancer; some are precancerous polyps and will turn into cancer.

The occurrence of colorectal cancer starts with precancerous polyps. The polyps gradually proliferate and then develop into cancer, which often takes several years. Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer will develop the disease faster.

Clinical data show that among people over 50 years old, approximately 15% of women and 25% of men have this type of precancerous polyps.

The purpose of colonoscopy screening is to detect these precancerous lesions and relatively small early cancers, intervene in time, and achieve early detection and early treatment.

If detected early and treated promptly, colorectal cancer has a very good cure.