Not long ago, Jeon Yeo-ok, a former member of the Saenuri Party (formerly known as the People’s Power Party), made headlines when she revealed that she was battling stage 4 colon cancer. In response to malicious comments and ridicule, she posted a ‘selfie’ of her hair growing back after chemotherapy, saying, “Look at those who mocked me to take off my hat.”
“I have been battling (colon cancer) 메이저사이트for the past year and a half,” said Jeon Yeo-ok, who revealed her cancer battle on March 30, “and I have seen so many brave and courageous cancer patients around me. I’ve seen so many brave and courageous cancer patients around me, who are risking their lives to survive today and create tomorrow. I’m proud to be fighting cancer, because at the end of the day, our lives are a preparation for our deaths.”
Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor made up of cancerous cells in the large intestine. Compared to other cancers, colorectal cancer has a high survival rate because it is often detected early, when people seek medical attention for routine symptoms such as indigestion. However, if it is detected late and metastasized, the survival rate of stage 3-4 colon cancer is relatively low, according to experts.
The causes of colon cancer can be divided into environmental and genetic factors. According to Seoul Asan Medical Center, genetic factors include familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Familial adenomatous polyposis is more common in people in their 20s and 30s, and 95% of patients develop the disease before the age of 45. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is a condition that puts you at risk for a number of cancers, including colorectal cancer.
Environmental factors are often related to dietary habits, including food intake. In particular, excessive animal fat intake and meat consumption (especially red meat) can promote the development of colon cancer. Poor fiber intake and obesity, which increases insulin resistance, have also been linked to the development of colorectal cancer.
As with other solid cancers, most people with early-stage colon cancer don’t feel any symptoms. This means that it’s hard to suspect the disease. However, asymptomatic patients may lose blood through unnoticed intestinal bleeding, which can lead to anemia, and sometimes loss of appetite and weight loss. You may also notice changes in your bowel habits, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation, or you may experience rectal bleeding from the anus.
Experts emphasize the importance of eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients, as well as adequate activity and exercise. It”s important to eat plenty of fiber, vegetables, and fruits, which dilute carcinogens in the intestines because they reduce the time it takes for food to pass through the intestines. Previous studies have also shown that calcium intake has a protective effect against colon cancer. Sufficient levels of vitamin D in the body are associated with a lower mortality rate from colon cancer.
Meanwhile, experts recommend that all adults over the age of 50 undergo regular colorectal screening as part of the National Cancer Screening Program. It is helpful to have a colonoscopy every year to test for occult blood (traces of blood in urine, feces, etc.) and to proceed if there is a corresponding reaction, or if there is a change in bowel habits, bloody stools, pain, or anemia.