Hanoi: Less than 10% of people with rectal cancer are detected early, most come to the doctor at a late stage, making treatment difficult, according to Hospital 108.
The information was announced by Associate Professor Trieu Trieu Duong, Director of the Institute of Digestive Surgery, Hospital 108, at the Scientific Conference to celebrate the establishment of the Vietnam Pelvic Floor Association on May 13. The conference was attended by hundreds of experts and doctors from hospitals, aiming to create an in-depth network focusing on diseases related to the pelvic floor, anus and rectum.
Rectal cancer is the most common gastrointestinal cancer. The disease is closely related to diet and lifestyle. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, this type of cancer ranks 4th in new cases and 5th in cancer mortality. Each year, Vietnam records about 16,000 new cases and about 8,000 deaths.
According to Associate Professor Duong, the rate of detecting the disease in the first stage is still very rare, only less than 10%. The reason is that early stage colorectal cancer has very silent symptoms, such as hidden abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or diarrhea mixed with constipation, and bloody stools. Patients are often tired, lose weight, and have anemia for no reason. When they feel a tumor in the abdomen and go to the doctor, the disease is already in the late stages.
"For any disease, especially cancer, early detection is very important in treatment," said Mr. Duong, advising people to screen early to avoid the disease being in a late stage, making treatment difficult and shortening the time and quality of life.
However, at Hospital 108, the number of patients diagnosed with stage 2-3 disease has increased to 60-65%, compared to 70-80% in the late stage. "When the disease is detected early, treatment is very feasible, just using chemotherapy, radiation therapy or simple surgery for the patient to live well," said Dr. Duong, adding that the rate of early detection is increasing because people are increasingly aware of disease screening.
Thanks to early detection and effective treatment, colon cancer patients have a higher survival rate. Specifically, a study at the 108 Institute found that 73% of patients lived for more than 5 years, compared to 45% previously. In addition to early screening, surgical techniques, thorough lymph node dissection, and the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy also contribute to prolonging the patient's life.
A rectal cancer surgery at Hospital 108. Photo: Provided by the hospital
Associate Professor Duong said that rectal cancer is currently showing signs of rejuvenation, due to lifestyle factors, in addition to genetic factors. Dr. Subhankar Chakraborty, a gastroenterologist at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, USA, also commented that diet and lifestyle is one of the reasons for the increase in colon cancer cases.
"Smoking, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, increased consumption of red meat can lead to cancer," Dr. Chakraborty told CNN.
For prevention, doctors recommend screening for early detection of colon cancer for people over 50 years old or with risk factors, by testing for blood in the stool and endoscopy. Depending on the lesions detected, the doctor may schedule an interval between colonoscopy visits every 3-5 years.
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