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Morbidity statistics are increasing
Colon cancer is the third most common malignancy after prostate cancer and other skin tumors. In Lithuania, more than 1,600 cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year. The incidence rate of colorectal cancer in Lithuania is 56.2 cases per 100 thousand. population and is growing steadily, as in many other countries, but it is still lower than in many countries in Western or Northern Europe.
In the structure of deaths from malignant neoplasms, colorectal cancer ranks second after lung cancer: almost a thousand deaths are registered and the estimated mortality from colorectal cancer in Lithuania is 31 cases per 100 thousand. population.
Although colorectal cancer survival rates are improving, they remain among the lowest in Europe, as survival is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Only 37 percent. of all colon cancer cases in Lithuania are diagnosed in the first or second stage, and 16 percent. Cases are diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer.
What people fear most
The most effective way to detect changes in the intestine as early as possible is a preventive program for the early diagnosis of colon cancer, which is administered every two years to people between 50 and 74 years old. However, gastroenterologist Inga Kildušienė, a physician at the National Cancer Institute, said that doctors are very concerned at this time, as they have noticed that the number of colonoscopies has dropped significantly. According to her, the flow of patients has been reduced by almost half compared to last year.
According to Ieva Bingelytė, a family doctor at Vilnius Antakalnis Polyclinic, the prevention programs were suspended during the quarantine, but even after the resumption of contact consultations, the volume of patient participation in the program had decreased by about a 43 percent. The figures recovered only in July.
“Preventing people from investigating under this program could be related to several aspects. One of them is, of course, the pandemic and the fear of infection. However, we urge people not to be afraid and come to register, because the health centers really do meet all the protection requirements. After all, it is a simple test – all you have to do is take it to the lab.
However, there is another aspect that people avoid or are ashamed of these programs: doing the research itself, removing the stool. People are also very afraid of colonoscopy procedures, but I would like to assure you that before the tests are done, it is done under general anesthesia, the nurse helps you prepare.
Also, colonoscopy is performed during this program only if the stool secreted blood test is positive. In our polyclinic according to this program in 2018-2019. examined about 6 thousand. people, of which only 4-6% the test was positive, of which only 3-4%. he was diagnosed with oncological disease. Therefore, a positive test only means that a colonoscopic diagnosis is required, but it is not a diagnosis of an oncological disease. And it is not a verdict: in the early stages, this type of cancer is treated very effectively, “said the GP.
There are no symptoms in the early stages.
According to I. Kildušienė, this program is one of the most useful programs, because colon cancer develops in the initial stages without practically any symptoms, the patient has no complaints, so the diagnosis of the disease is possible only by means of prophylactic verification. According to her, colon cancer is a long-term disease, even up to the age of 10, and is associated with the Western lifestyle and a diet rich in processed foods.
“When complaints arise, it means that the stage is later. Unfortunately, according to statistics, first and second stage colon cancer is detected only in 37%. cases, the remaining cases are in higher stages. Meanwhile, the goal of this program is to find even a precancerous condition, not cancer. and. polyps that we can successfully treat or remove.
In the early stages, we can also remove the tumor during endoscopic surgery without even cutting the abdominal wall. So I strongly encourage you to come for a check-up because the cancer is not waiting, and when patients with stage 4 cancer arrive, the treatment is not as effective and it is more difficult and complicated, ”explained the doctor.
As a colleague at the National Cancer Institute, a coloproctologist surgeon Dr. Audrius Dulskas, after diagnosing the first or second stage of cancer, the five-year survival rate is more than 90%, in the case of the third stage – up to 60%, in the fourth stage – 10-12% . Therefore, a prevention program is also very important to reduce mortality from this disease.
“This program applies to healthy people who have no complaints. If there are already complaints, at least we are talking about the third stage. This year, we note that about 20 percent. more people arrive with the third or fourth stage than before. Many of them say that the symptoms appeared during the quarantine, but they could not reach the medical institutions, “said the doctor.
According to him, it is necessary to consult a doctor if new symptoms related to digestion and defecation develop, lasting one or two months: altered defecation, bloating, diarrhea, alternating with constipation, bleeding, etc.
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