How to prevent early colorectal cancer metastasis

After treatment, cancer patients who have recovered are most worried about recurrence and metastasis. The occurrence of recurrence and metastasis is not only related to the location of the primary tumor, the stage of the disease, the time of discovery, the treatment method, the doctor's treatment level, etc., but also the patient's self-awareness and self-management level are also critical. So how to prevent early colorectal cancer metastasis?

Standardize lifestyle

For ordinary people, increasing the proportion of vegetables and fruits in the diet, reducing the proportion of high-protein and high-fat foods, and doing appropriate physical exercise can reduce the incidence of colon cancer. For colon cancer patients, following this diet and lifestyle can reduce the recurrence rate of colon cancer after surgery.

Studies have shown that negative emotions are a high-risk factor for the development of tumors and a factor affecting tumor recurrence. Therefore, patients with colon cancer should have a correct understanding of colon cancer and maintain an optimistic attitude.

Regular review

According to statistics, more than 50% of patients with advanced colorectal cancer will experience local recurrence in the surgical area and distant metastasis to organs such as the liver and lungs during their survival. Therefore, regular postoperative follow-up examinations are particularly important. Timely intervention and treatment can achieve the best treatment results.

Clinicians generally report that some patients are very active in follow-up examinations within the first two years after treatment, but tend to relax their vigilance after a certain period of time. Some even do not have follow-up examinations at all, and by the time recurrence and metastasis are discovered, the precious opportunity for treatment has been lost.

Generally speaking, it is recommended that patients with colon cancer have a follow-up examination every three months in the first two years after treatment; every six months after two years; and once a year after five years. Examination items include B-ultrasound, chest X-ray, CT, tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9), etc.

Colonoscopy is the main means of detecting colon cancer and is also one of the essential reexamination items. The significance of colonoscopy is to detect and treat early to improve the cure rate of colon cancer. At the same time, precancerous lesions such as adenomatous polyps can be detected and treated in time to avoid the development of colon cancer.

It is recommended that patients with colon cancer undergo a colonoscopy within the first year after surgery. Patients with concurrent colon adenoma can undergo endoscopic resection and have another colonoscopy one year later. Thereafter, a colonoscopy should be performed every three years.

Timely treatment of recurrence and metastasis

The 5-year survival rate after surgery for colon cancer liver metastasis can reach about 30%, and in some selected cases the 5-year survival rate can even reach more than 50%.

For localized metastases to the liver or lungs, the metastatic lesions can be surgically removed, with systemic treatment provided before and after the operation. Some patients with unresectable metastases may have the opportunity for resection after comprehensive preoperative treatment. Other patients who cannot have resectable metastases can also prolong their survival through reasonable multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment.

At present, the treatment effect of colon cancer is relatively good. The cure rate of early colon cancer can reach 90%, the cure rate of stage 2 patients without lymph node metastasis is 70-80%, and the cure rate of stage 3 patients with lymph node metastasis after surgery is 50-60%. It can be seen that the treatment effect of colon cancer is closely related to the early or late discovery. As long as it is discovered early and treated in a standardized manner, its cure rate is relatively ideal.

Therefore, if healthy people over the age of 35 experience any changes in bowel patterns or bowel movement characteristics, such as blood in the stool, increased frequency of bowel movements, discomfort during bowel movements, and falling bowel movements, they should go to the hospital and ask a specialist to check in time.