Because the initial symptoms are not typical, many patients are taken to the hospital when the cancer reaches an advanced stage.

Stomachache. That complaint is often perceived Prasetyo, 45 years old, for three years before he was sentenced colorectal cancer (colon).

Initially, he was declared a doctor suffering from inflammation of the intestine, so that only given anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics. However, drugs were never able to completely remove the grievances. As a result, the recurrent abdominal pain, and always repeated. Until one day, he felt a great pain in her stomach.

Prasetyo returned to the doctor. This time, doctors say, Some large intestine was cut. Done a problem? Apparently not. Prasetyo that heavy smokers are still often feel pain in the abdomen. His body grew thin, and often had diarrhea. The cause of abdominal pain is finally known to pass the examination at a large hospital in Bandung. Certain cancers has been lodged in the large intestine Prasetyo, and has reached stage IV. Four months after hearing this verdict, Prasetyo perished for ever.

Colorectal cancer is one type of cancer is fairly common, especially in men and women aged 50 years or more. In men, colorectal cancer ranks as the third most common cancer found after prostate and lung. While in women, this cancer also ranks third after breast cancer and lung. ”From the various reports, in Indonesia there is an increase in the number of cases (colon cancer), though no definitive data. Data on the Department of Health found rates 1.8 per 100 thousand inhabitants,”the doctor said Adil S Pasaribu, SpB KBD, surgical specialists from Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Jakarta.

Colorectal cancer is the growth of malignant cancer cells in the surface of the colon or rectum. Most colon cancer starts with the growth of malignant cells that do not or adenoma, which in the early stages of forming polyps (cells that grow very quickly).

In the early stages, adenoma can be removed easily. It’s just that at this early stage, often adenoma did not show any symptoms, so that is not detected in a relatively long time. In fact, the initial adenoma not cause any complaints of this, at a time can develop into cancer that undermines all parts of the large intestine.

The initial symptoms are not typical of this makes a lot of colon cancer patients come to the hospital when the course of the disease was so advanced. Efforts treatment becomes difficult. In fact, as Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Internist Specialist, doctors SpPD Sudoyo KHOM Aru, the main key to the success of treatment of colon cancer was found in early-stage cancer, so that therapy can be implemented in a curative surgery. Unfortunately, things like this are very rare. What often happens is that cases such as experienced Prasetyo, the cancer is found at an advanced stage, so that the patient hopes for survival becomes very small.

If colon cancer is found in stage I, the patient opportunities to live up to five years to reach 85-95 percent. Meanwhile, if found in stage II, the opportunity to reach 60-80 per cent, at stage III around 30-60 percent, and stage IV of about 25 percent. ”This means, if there are 100 people with colon cancer stage IV, it is still alive five years only five people,’’said Aru.

Early detection
To avoid the worst, as experienced Prasetyo, early detection is very important. ”Early detection or screening for this cancer, can save lives,”firmly Fair.

With early detection can be found in a precancerous polyp, an abnormal colon or rectum that can be discarded before it turned into cancer. ”If all people aged 50 years or older be screened regularly, so as much as 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths can be avoided,”he said.

Early detection is the investigation of individual asymptomatic (without symptoms) which aims to detect the disease at an early stage so that curative therapy can be done. In general, explained Adil, early detection can be performed on two groups, namely the general population and high risk groups. Early detection in the general population group made to individuals over the age of 40 years. While those belonging to high-risk groups, among others, are those who have had a polipektomi for adenoma in the large intestine, and the people who come from families with a history of this disease.

Associated with family history, you do not have to worry too much if it came from a family with a history of colon cancer. According to Adil, genetic factors can indeed be a cause of this disease, but these factors can be narrowed. Way, change your diet and do early detection.

Causes and symptoms
So far, the cause of colon cancer are not known with certainty. Only, there are some things that allegedly led to the potential of this malignant disease, namely: the wrong diet (too many foods high in fat and protein, and low in fiber), obesity (overweight), had colon cancer, comes from a family who have a history of colon cancer, had had polyps in the colon, age (risk increases at age above 50 years), less physical activity, often exposed to food preservatives and dyes that are not for food, and smoking.

In the book Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Management Guide says that although initial studies showed no relationship of smoking with the incidence of colon cancer, but new research suggests, long-term smokers (30-40 years) have a risk ranging from 1,5-3 times. It is estimated, one out of five cases of colon cancer in the United States can be attributed to smoking. Cohort and case-control with a good design shows, smoking associated with an increased risk of adenoma formation and also increase the risk of changes in adenoma of colon cancer. Therefore”to prevent the occurrence of colon cancer is recommended not to smoke,’’said Aru. About colon cancer symptoms, Aru mention a few things that patients often complained of, namely:

* Bleeding in the large intestine characterized by the finding of blood in the stool during defecation.

* Changes in bowel function (diarrhea or constipation) for no apparent reason, more than six weeks.

* Weight loss for no apparent reason.

* The pain in the abdomen or the back.

* Stomach still felt full even after a bowel movement.

* Fatigue constant

* Sometimes the cancer can be a barrier in the large intestine that looks at some symptoms such as constipation, pain, and feeling bloated in the stomach.

To deal with colon cancer, according to Aru, surgical therapy is the most effective way, especially if done on the disease is still localized. However, when it happened metastases (spread), treatment becomes more difficult. However, with the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the moment, allows people with advanced stage or in the case of recurrence for adjuvan therapy. Adjuvan therapy is chemotherapy given after surgery in patients with stage III cancer in order to kill remaining cancer cells.

At present, therapy can be done without adjuvan injection (IV), but with oral / tablets (Capacitabine). Capacitabine”is also an oral chemotherapy is safe and working up to the cancer cells,’’said Aru, who also serves as chairman of the Commission Adjuvan Therapy, Working Group on Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Indonesia.

Kick Colon Cancer
Prevent better than cure. It also applies to colon cancer. In order not to touch this deadly disease, prevention efforts do. Consider prevention tips from doctors Adil S Pasaribu KBD SpB following:

* Avoid foods high in fat, protein, calories, and red meat. Do not forget the consumption of calcium and folic acid.

* After undergoing adenoma polipektomi calcium supplementation is recommended.

* Also recommended supplementation of vitamin E, and D.

* Eating fruits and vegetables every day.

* Maintain a body mass index between 18.5 to 25.0 kg/m2 for life.

* Doing physical activity, such as brisk walking at least 30 minutes a day.

* Avoid smoking.

* Done immediately and polipektomi colonoscopy in patients found in the polyps.

* Apply early detection with a faint blood tests since the age of 40 years.

source : http://www.republika.co.id/koran_detail.asp?id=266724&kat_id=123