The age of onset of colorectal cancer tends to be younger

This year's National Cancer Prevention and Treatment Publicity Week has just passed. Through the popularization of various malignant tumors by the media and hospitals during this period, people's understanding of malignant tumors has been further improved. The prevention of malignant tumors starts with changing lifestyles. Today, we will talk specifically about the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, accounting for 10% of the global cancer incidence, the third highest incidence rate among malignant tumors, and the second highest mortality rate among malignant tumors. With more than 1.2 million new cases each year, it is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common cancer in men. With the changes in my country's living habits and dietary structure and the acceleration of the aging process of the population, colorectal cancer ranks third in the incidence of malignant tumors in my country, and the incidence rate has been on the rise in recent years, with more than 600,000 people dying from the disease each year. Due to the low early diagnosis rate of colorectal cancer, about 60% of patients are already in stage II and III when they are discovered.

The age of onset of colorectal cancer is getting younger

Professor Shen Lin, deputy director of Beijing Cancer Hospital, said: The median age of colorectal cancer is about 56-57 years old, but the age group of patients seeking treatment is relatively young. "During a ward round, I found that in a ward with seven beds, three were around 30 years old. Only one patient was over 40 years old, and the rest were young colorectal cancer patients."

It is not unusual for young people to get malignant tumors, especially colorectal cancer, which is related to the change in people's lifestyle. Young people like to eat junk food, have irregular work and rest schedules, and like to stay up late... Gu Jin, deputy director of Beijing Cancer Hospital, said: "I have a 27-year-old patient in my clinic who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer just after giving birth. The youngest patient was only 19 years old."

Changing lifestyle and early screening can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer

Professor Cai Sanjun, director of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Fudan University, pointed out that through primary prevention and changes in lifestyle, the incidence of colorectal cancer can be reduced by about 35%; through secondary prevention colorectal cancer screening surveys, its mortality and incidence can be reduced by about 53%; while tertiary prevention and better treatment can only improve it by 12%.

From 2001 to 2010, the incidence of colorectal cancer in the U.S. population decreased by 3.4% annually. Although the number of colorectal cancer patients under the age of 50 is still increasing, it has decreased by 3.9% annually in those over the age of 50. The mortality rate of colorectal cancer in the U.S. decreased by 2% annually from 1991 to 2000, and by 3% annually from 2001 to 2010, thanks to early screening for colorectal cancer.

Professor Cai said that the first step to prevent colorectal cancer is to change your lifestyle, such as reducing high-protein, high-fat, and refined foods, increasing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, reducing smoking and excessive drinking, and increasing exercise. Second, reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer and improve survival through secondary prevention, by actively promoting the clinical manifestations of colorectal cancer so that patients actively seek medical treatment. Actively carrying out screening for early detection is the most important means, and screening is the main means to reduce tumors and improve survival. Third, actively treat precancerous lesions. Fourth, active treatment has a better effect.

Only targeted therapy can prolong life and improve quality of life for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer

Since the early symptoms of colorectal cancer are not obvious, 60% of patients are already in the middle or late stages when they are discovered. The main treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments can be used alone or in combination.

The five-year survival rate of colorectal cancer in stage I can reach 95%, but unfortunately, most patients are already in the middle and late stages when diagnosed, and have lost the opportunity for surgery. Professor Xu Jianming, director of the Department of Digestive Oncology at the 307th PLA Hospital, said that for colorectal cancer patients who have metastasized and have no chance of surgery, the main treatment method currently adopted is chemotherapy plus targeted drug therapy. The emergence of targeted drugs has improved the treatment expectations of colorectal cancer patients, and its combination with chemotherapy can significantly prolong the patient's overall survival.