How to Diagnose Colon Cancer Early

You must know how to diagnose colon cancer to be able to anticipate the worst. Detection of colon and rectal cancer earlier increases the percentage of patients to recover from this disease.

It's because cancer has not spread and damaged the surrounding healthy tissues and organs, making it easier for treatment to remove and kill cancer cells.

In order to detect, make a diagnosis, find out the stage and possible cause of colorectal cancer, the doctor will ask you to do some health tests. This cancer can indeed be detected early through a series of examinations.

However, someone who is getting older is advised to have regular check-ups to avoid a number of diseases that arise with age. However, this diagnosis must be made by a doctor, and you cannot do it independently. Here are some ways doctors can diagnose colon cancer.

How to Diagnose Colon Cancer Early

There are several types of tests that can be performed by the doctor to detect colorectal cancer, including:

1. Physical Test

In this test, the doctor will ask you what symptoms of colon and rectal cancer you may be experiencing and how long they have felt. The test will be followed by an examination for swelling in the abdomen or plug the anus.

In which the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel for abnormal tissue growth. Then, the doctor will also look at possible risk factors, including the medical history of family members.

2. Sigmoidoscopy examination

One of the methods on how to diagnose colon cancer is using Sigmoidoscopy examination. This examination is done by inserting a thin tube equipped with a sigmoidoscope (small camera) and a lamp that is inserted through the anus into the lower colon.

Sigmoidoscopy itself is done to see the presence of cancer or polyps which is equipped with a tool to take tissue samples to be examined under a microscope.

3. Colonoscopy Procedure

Colonoscopy is one of the methods on how to diagnose colon cancer. Before undergoing a colonoscopy procedure, you need to first consult with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, taking certain medications, and have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure. After that, to make sure the intestines are clean during the colonoscopy, the doctor will ask you to empty the colon.

Before performing a colonoscopy, the doctor will give you an anesthetic first. After the effects of the anesthetic work, the doctor will start performing a colonoscopy.

This procedure usually lasts 30–60 minutes. During the colonoscopy, you will feel mild cramping in your stomach. However, this complaint can be relieved by taking a deep breath slowly.

How to Prevent Colon Cancer

There is no surefire way to prevent colorectal cancer. However, health experts argue that avoiding the various risk factors can help. Limiting the consumption of NSAID drugs, such as aspirin is often used to relieve pain.

Apparently, for people who are at risk of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, the use of this type of drug should be limited. The reason, aspirin can cause bleeding and ulcers, making the risk of colorectal cancer so much higher. It's best to consult your doctor before using the drug.

You also need to pay attention to your consumption. Food is a source of nutrition for your body's cells. In order for cells to stay healthy, you must eat healthy, nutritious foods. You should increase your intake of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and whole grains.

Not only that, how to prevent the development of colon and rectal cancer can also be applied by limiting the consumption of red meat (beef or goat) and burned food.

Scientists found that red meat contains heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are chemicals produced from meat cooked at high temperatures. These chemicals can increase the risk of cancer if consumed in large quantities on a regular basis.

Therefore, it is very important for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Understanding how to diagnose colon cancer is also very important for you.