Regular colonoscopy can avoid the threat of colon cancer

In Europe, the average age of colon cancer is around 65, but in my country the average age is 56, 10 years younger than in Europe. This is because my country has not established a national screening program, which results in the late detection of colon cancer, and a considerable number of colon cancer patients cannot undergo anal preservation surgery and have to undergo artificial anus, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.

However, if colon cancer can be detected early, the results will be very different. The five-year survival rate of patients with stage A colon cancer can reach more than 90%, and the five-year survival rate of patients with stage B can reach more than 70%. In addition, if colorectal polyps can be detected early, they can be removed under colonoscopy, which can also effectively prevent the occurrence of colon cancer.

Generally speaking, people at high risk of colon cancer in my country need to be screened for colon cancer starting at the age of 40. First, a fecal occult blood test is performed. If the fecal occult blood is positive, a colonoscopy is required. If everything is normal, a fecal occult blood test is performed once a year, and a colonoscopy is performed every 2 to 3 years; for people with colon cancer in the family, the frequency of colonoscopy can be appropriately increased. For family members with familial polyposis, the first examination generally needs to be performed at the age of 12. If colon polyps are found, polyps should be removed. If there are no polyps, a colonoscopy is performed about every six months, and a total colectomy should be considered after the age of 16; for family members with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, the first colonoscopy should be performed after the age of 18, and then a colonoscopy is performed every 1 to 2 years.