2023-05-12 02:20:03
Bleeding in the stool, iron anemia, abdominal pain and diarrhea could be symptoms of the early onset of colon-rectal cancer according to extensive work carried out in the USA on more than 100 million of insured.
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Red flags
A large American study followed more than 100 million people to try to find the precursor signals that could announce a cancer colorectal.
But why do such a job? Because early detection of this cancer would increase the chances of survival for patients, with operable tumors sans metastases.
At the end of this vast analysis where more than 5000 cases of cancers of the colon-rectum took place during 10 years, 4 signals appear important to alert on the early development of a possible cancer.
- of the bleeding in the stool
- a anemia in fer
- of the abdominal pain
- of the diarrhea
Having just one of these symptoms is associated with a 2-fold increased risk of getting colorectal cancer within 3 months to 2 years. A risk that increases dramatically with two (x 3,6) or three symptoms (x 6,5)
The association was strongest for young adults under the age of 45.
Bleeding in the stool often leads to great concern and consultation with a specialist. But even in this case, the scientists find a relatively long delay before the first diagnosis, estimated at 7 months on average.
Limits to consider
So of course, this information should not feed a unfounded fear at the slightest abdominal pain or episode of diarrhea. You have to know how to keep and contextualize the symptoms (and above all avoid the “fear-mongering“).
Occasional diarrhea, without other symptoms, following food poisoning or taking antibiotics is nothing to worry about. The concomitance of certain symptoms, as well as their persistence without valid explanation should, however, lead you to consult to carry out additional examinations.
Iron anemia with blood in the stool would be, according to the authors, the two symptoms most strongly associated with the risk of having a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Officially, there is no recommendation for screening for colorectal cancer before the age of 50. And the National Cancer Institute offers a general list symptoms which should alert us in the event of persistence and worsening for all cancers in general.
But this study focuses specifically on colorectal cancer, but does not provide strong evidence that monitoring these signals might be useful.
Because the study goes back in time to try to find the symptoms most often associated with diagnosed cancers (we are talking about a retrospective study).
The researchers have not evaluated the interest, for example, of specifically monitoring these 4 symptoms to facilitate the detection of cancers and improve the chances of survival. Thousands of people would need to be followed in large studies for a long time (because these cancers can take time to form).
These symptoms may also have nothing to do with possible colorectal cancer, hence the importance of contextualizing the appearances and consulting in case of doubt.
Wild screening?
Aren’t we getting a little dangerously close to a kind of random screening of a disease, without a rigorous scientific framework?
Screening for colorectal cancer is organized from the age of 50, in healthy people. This is in fact the very principle of screening. We will regularly look at certain markers in people with no particular symptoms.
Screening should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. For some diseases, screening is very effective with no significant risk (smears for cervical cancer), while it is debated for others (mammographic screening for breast cancer) or even not recommended (that for cervical cancer). prostate by PSA assay).
In short, in our case, we are talking about the triggering of a consultation and additional analyzes in the context of symptoms suggestive of a health problem. We leave the framework where we rake widely without finesse in the population.
For further
Colorectal cancer is the 3rd in the world. It is estimated that 70% of these cancers come from our environment, while the remaining 30% have a genetic origin. On genetic cancers, a famous adage from an obesity researcher, George Bray, warns us that genetics loads the gun, and our environment pulls the trigger! »
A metaphor to remind us that we have levers at our disposal to reduce the risk of having colorectal cancer… such as the greater consumption of fibers ? I talk about it in detail in two articles, the first rather generalist and optimistic, and the second much more critical with the results of clinical studies that leave room for doubt.
The extra pounds and the too many outings to the bar are some of the things you can change to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. Even if it’s far from simple, you have to try to lose weight and reduce your alcohol consumption.
The blog is full of articles on methods to lose weight. Do not hesitate to approach d’addictologues if your alcohol consumption is very problematic (see the challenge close to the Dry January).
The cigarette is associated with colorectal cancer with more or less certainty. When in doubt, you know very well that you only have benefits from quitting smoking anyway.
The excessive consumption of processed meatlike the deli meats, is not really a good idea to avoid this cancer. Especially if your diet is lacking in fruits and vegetables, and your lifestyle is not ideal.
About the Red meat ? It’s more delicate. Prudence prompts me to advise reasonable contributions, especially if the latter come exclusively from barbecue with a nice flame-blackened crust. I will come back very soon to take stock of it.
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#warning #signs #early #colorectal #cancer