How to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer? – Health
Colorectal cancer (disease of the cells that line the inside of the colon or rectum) is one of the most widespread in France and affects both men and women: some 45,000 new cases are detected each year and around 18,000 people die from it. , making it the second leading cause of cancer death in France. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men, after prostate and lung; and the second in women, after breast cancer.
How to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer?
As with many diseases, lifestyle can influence the risk of developing colorectal cancer. It is therefore advisable to:
– Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption: the infernal alcohol/tobacco duo “is a risk factor for all cancers”, explains Dr Mélanie Audoual, coordinating doctor of the Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Center in Brittany (CRDC ), branch of Finistère.
– Adopt a balanced and varied diet and limit foods high in fat. According to the League Against Cancer, “high consumption of red meat is an important risk factor. »
– Practice regular physical activity.
– Having a healthy weight: overweight and obesity increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
– Type 2 diabetes and lack of sun exposure could also have an impact.
Note that age is also a risk factor since 90% of colorectal cancers occur after the age of 50, according to the League Against Cancer. “Family history also plays a role,” says Dr. Audoual.
Are there warning signs?
This is where the whole problem lies: “When colorectal cancer begins to speak, it means that it is already well advanced…, indicates Dr. Audoual. There are no real signs except when you have visible blood in the stool and if you have unusual diarrhea or constipation, transit disorders, it is best to consult. »
Why can screening save lives?
According to the League Against Cancer, colorectal cancer “takes time to develop and can be effectively treated with early detection. Detected in time, it can be cured in nine out of ten cases. »
Because, detected in time, precancerous lesions are removed before they turn into cancer: “The objective of screening is to find lesions that we do not suspect exist, when you have no signs, no symptoms. Lesions are not cancer! However, they can progress to cancer. If we find a polyp, we remove it: we thus prevent the occurrence of a possible cancer,” says Dr. Audoual. However, “only one in three people takes their test, it’s a shame,” laments the doctor. Especially when we know that “when colorectal cancer is detected at an early stage, 5-year survival exceeds 90%”, according to the National Cancer Institute (INCa).
Last year, around 300 cancers were discovered in Brittany thanks to organized screening.
Who is concerned by organized screening?
Are concerned by the so-called “organized” screening: men and women between 50 and 74 years old, who receive an invitation (by mail) to carry out an immunological test every two years. “It’s a test to do at home, which is simple, quick, free, painless and reliable,” says Dr. Audoual. It consists of taking a stool sample and sending it to the laboratory whose address is indicated on the return envelope provided with the test.
If your immunological test shows signs of bleeding, you will be prescribed a colonoscopy.
It should be noted that people of all ages with a personal and/or family history as well as genetic predispositions, must consult their doctor regularly in order to have an individual follow-up.
Novelty
New: you can now go to a pharmacy to pick up a screening kit. The kits can also be delivered by the attending physician, the pharmacist, or even ordered online at monkit.depistage-colorectal.fr
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