A TV presenter succumbed to colorectal cancer at the age of 40. Before leaving, she shared precious advice to raise public awareness of symptoms and the importance of early screening.
An often ignored signal can however save lives and colorectal cancer is an illustration. Whatever your age, staying attentive to changes, so trivial appears, can change everything. BBC Africa details them Early signs of colon cancerfollowing the disappearance of a presenter from the British news channel. “Review your things”hammered Deborah James, who led an awareness campaign, before dying from colorectal cancer. Here are the signs to pay attention.
Colon cancer: early symptoms to monitor
Pain in the intestines
Three main signals must draw attention: the presence of blood in the stool, whether bright or dark red; a notable change in intestinal transit, either more frequent, liquid or hard stools; And a feeling of pain or bloating in the lower abdomen. Other signs may also appear: weight loss, impression of not having emptied the intestines, and fatigue or unusual stunning. These symptoms do not prove cancer, but if they persist for more than three weeks and alter well-being, consulting becomes necessary.
How to check your stool and go for the mortgage
Observe what comes out in the toilet, including the color of blood or black blood, is essential. Bright red blood can come from hemorrhoids, but it can also announce colorectal cancer. Darker blood, almost black, can come higher in the digestive tract. Bowel Cancer UK recommends keeping a symptom journal so as not to forget anything during the medical appointment. If cancer blocks the intestine, abdominal pain, constipation and discomfort can become intense – it is a medical emergency.
Colon cancer: diagnosis, stages, treatments and prevention
A diagnosis is often based on colonoscopy (examination of the whole intestine with a camera) or a flexible sigmoidoscopy (for a part). Diagnosed early, colorectal cancer offers a five -year survival rate over 90 %. At an advanced stage, this rate drops to 44 %. In 40 years, the chances of survival at 10 years have been more than doubled: more than half of patients live ten years or more today, compared to one in the 1970s (British statistics).
According to specialists, more than half of these cancers could be avoided Thanks to a healthier life: do more exercise, consume more fibers, less fat, drink six to eight glasses of water per day. And of course being tested as soon as it is proposed.