“Smoking, alcohol and unhealthy diet pose a risk for colon cancer”

Akyol stated that many events are held every year in March as colon cancer awareness month around the world and in Turkey. “Although the number of cases was 21,191, we lost 10,723 people due to colon and rectal cancer in the same year. In the same year, 4,866 people died in traffic accidents. The number of people who died due to colon cancer is more than the double the number of people we lost in road accidents,” he said.

Emphasizing that the lives of thousands of colon cancer patients can be saved through colonoscopic screening, Akyol said, “Most colorectal cancers begin as a growth on the inner surface of the colon or rectum, which we call polyps. More than 80 percent of colorectal cancers develops from the base of a polyp. A small polyp is an average cancer. It takes about 8 to 10 years to transform. This gives us enough time to remove the polyps. We can prevent 60 percent of colon cancer deaths prevent with screening tests. The main goal of colon cancer screening tests is to prevent the disease, not early diagnosis. Of course, early diagnosis is also secondary. This is an achievement, but first of all we have the opportunity to make the patient of the save disease and prevent the development of the disease with colonoscopy. Another method is to perform screening with on testing occult blood tests. These tests, which are convenient and free at family health centers and KETEMs, can be taken from anyone age 45 and older. he must commit a sin. When the result of this test is positive, people are referred for colonoscopy. We recommend that everyone age 45 and older have a colonoscopy every 10 years unless directed by a doctor. While the risk of colorectal cancer often increases with age, 10% of colon and rectal cancers are diagnosed under 50 years of age.

Akyol pointed out that factors such as age, gender, family history, heredity and lifestyle come to the fore when looking at the factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer. history of colorectal polyps is an important risk factor for colon cancer People with a personal history of colorectal cancer and women with ovarian, uterine or breast cancer are more likely to develop colorectal cancer Intensive consumption of frozen foods, processed meat and meat products and animal fats , smoking and alcohol consumption, obesity and little exercise are important risk factors. Another important risk factor is ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are inflammatory bowel diseases. Especially in patients with ulcerative colitis, we call pancolitis.b Most weights are involved and if 10 years have passed from the time of diagnosis, there is a serious increase in the risk of colorectal cancer. There are three main methods used in the treatment of colorectal cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Surgery, the most important and important therapeutic step of colorectal cancer, has developed significantly with the development of surgical technology. Looking at today’s scientific data, the shortage of surgical treatment cannot be overcome with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In other words, there is no other treatment that can replace surgical treatment. Some patients can be completely cured with surgery, but some may require treatments such as drugs and chemotherapy.”