Measures to diagnose colon cancer

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nong Ngoc Son - Chemotherapy and palliative treatment - Oncology Center - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Colon cancer is a common disease with a higher rate of men than women. The disease usually appears between the ages of 40-45, and tends to increase with age. The disease has unclear signs, so the accurate diagnosis of colon cancer must rely on laboratory measures.

Risk signs of colon cancer
Persistent digestive upset: Ợ gas, heartburn, vomiting or nausea, cramping or tingling pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, indigestion, or bloating. , feeling of loss of appetite, possible constipation or diarrhea... Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without diet or exercise is a common sign in cancers. Disturbances of stool excretion: The condition of erratic loose bowel movements takes place for a long time, cramping pain, discomfort when passing stools. Stool changes shape to thin, narrower than usual.

Appearance of blood in the stool: There is blood in the stool, the blood is usually not bright red but the color of fish blood due to the mucus in the colon. However, there may be microscopic blood that cannot be detected by the naked eye Anemia of which the cause cannot be found: If the patient has anemia with no known cause, it may be caused by tumors, blood loss through the digestive tract. due to stomach ulcers, stomach cancer, colon cancer...) Fatigue, weakness: A common symptom but often overlooked. If the tumor is large, the patient can feel the mass in the abdomen, it is firm, painful and does not move. In addition, it can manifest through complications such as intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation...

Based on risk factors and disease signs to orient the diagnosis of colon cancer, to make an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to combine with subclinical methods:
Abdominal ultrasound: Ultrasound to detect Tumor in the colon is very difficult, because the gastrointestinal tract is full of gas that interferes with the ultrasound. However, indirect signs can be seen such as intussusception, intestinal obstruction, thick colonic wall... Blood test in stool: Colon cancer in the early stages often causes bleeding but a small amount of it is invisible to the eye. , a test for blood in the stool to detect lesions in the colon early. Test for cancer markers CEA, CA 19.9, CA 125....in the blood. Colonoscopy combined with biopsy: This is a definitive diagnostic method, colonoscopy detects diseases in the colon and rectum. If an abnormal mass is found, tissue is taken and a biopsy is performed to determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Regular colonoscopy in high-risk individuals helps to screen and detect disease early. CT scan to detect metastases to surrounding organs. MRI showed no lymph node metastasis.

Screening for early detection of colon cancer brings high treatment efficiency. The 5-year survival rate is very high up to 90% for those detected and treated early.
At Vinmec deploying a package of screening and detecting colon cancer, the package applies to the following customers:
Men or women over 40 years old. Over 40 years old is an age with a high risk of colon cancer, customers should periodically screen for colon disease. Customers with high risk factors such as colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, family members with cancer.... When choosing Vinmec, customers can be assured of the quality:
Being examined and consulted by highly qualified and experienced doctors Perform paraclinical examinations to detect colon cancer early. The most complete and modern medical equipment helps to accurately diagnose the disease. When the disease is detected, appropriate treatment is provided. There is a full range of treatment methods suitable for each stage of the disease.

The treatment process for colon cancer at Vinmec is combined by many clinical departments to bring the highest treatment efficiency and minimize psychological pressure and pain levels for patients.
In addition to the current treatment methods being applied to treat colon cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation... at Vinmec, a method of treating colon cancer has been implemented. colon by robotic surgery with many advantages such as:
No vision restriction, good image quality and high accuracy. The robot has 4 hands, so it performs well, limiting hand tremors.

Ability to operate in difficult positions. Safe, minimizes the risk of complications. Less blood loss, fast recovery. Small incisions, ensuring aesthetics. Colon cancer can be detected early by laboratory methods. The early screening of colon cancer helps to detect early, bringing very high treatment efficiency. People over 40 years old or those with high risk factors should regularly visit reputable medical facilities for screening and periodic examination to detect disease early.