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On August 28, Hollywood was in mourning when the death of Chadwick boseman, American actor known worldwide for playing King T’Challa in the Marvel movie, Black Panther.
As revealed by the family through an emotional statement, Boseman died of aggressive colon cancer. The disease was diagnosed in stage III in 2016 and in the last time it had advanced to stage IV.
Signs of colon cancer
Colon cancer occurs when “tumors form in the lining of the large intestine”, details the portal of the US National Library of Medicine.
Carlos Valenzuela, gastroenterologist at the Biobío Clinic, explained to BioBioChile that there are four main symptoms that are characteristic of this disease:
– Rectorrhagia (loss of blood through bowel movements)
– Severe abdominal pain
– Bloating (bloating)
– Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea and constipation
Alejandro Zarate, a coloproctologist and professor at the Finis Terrae University School of Medicine, detailed these same symptoms and added that due to this general discomfort many patients stop eating and have weight loss, this being another sign.
In summary, a colon cancer patient is generally “An adult person, over 40, who has had abdominal pain for a couple of months, who has bleeding, diarrhea and who has lost weight”Zárate commented.
Valenzuela explained that although colon cancer is not the most common – that is gastric cancer – this disease is on a “progressive increase” in the country, which is worrying.
For this reason, if any of these symptoms occur, Valenzuela recommends performing the stool occult blood test.
“It detects small traces of blood or red blood cells in the stools. When it tests positive, it means that the patient must complete the study with a colonoscopy. This can allow colon cancer to be diagnosed in early stages, not so advanced, in which it can still be treated curatively.He explained.
In this sense, the gastroenterologist advised that all people over 50 should undergo this test every one or two years, as a check-up method.
“Colonoscopy is the most specific test to confirm the diagnosis. The occult blood test is to know who to do the colonoscopy “added.
Causes
As we mentioned before, colon cancer is on a progressive increase in Chile and the factors that favor the development of the disease are multiple.
One of them is one that cannot be changed: age. “The older the age, the greater the risk of having colon cancer”, detailed the professor of the University Finis Terrae.
At this point, Zárate explained that the feeding it also plays a fundamental role.
“It has been shown that a diet rich in protein and processed foods, and low in fruits, vegetables and fiber is a promoter of diseases such as colon cancer”he commented.
Finally, another factor is family history, that is, genetic transmission. “If you have a family history of colon cancer, you are more likely to develop the disease”, he concluded.
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