Colon cancer is a public health problem in Mexico. Timely diagnosis and treatment are determining factors so that this disease does not become fatal. These are some data on the disease in Mexico:
The Mexican Social Security Institute promotes the adoption of healthy lifestyles in its beneficiaries, which allows reduce factors that increase the possibility of suffering from colon canceramong them avoid eating processed red meats such as ham, sausage or bacon daily; prevent obesity – particularly in middle age and adulthood; diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle, with a daily exercise routine.
Dr. Wendy Elizabeth Flores Delgado, coordinator of Medical Programs of the Oncology Care Coordination, explained that There are other factors that cannot be modified and that should alert a person to the greater probability of developing colon cancer, such as hereditary history, and familial hereditary syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome.for whom it is suggested to go to their doctor and have a follow-up before the age of 40.
“If you have a first-degree relative (father, son or brother), the chance of suffering from it increases two to four times moreand this rises exponentially if there are two first-degree relatives regardless of their age or if a first-degree relative is diagnosed before the age of 50”he highlighted.
He emphasized that timely diagnosis is essential, since in the early or initial stage, Survival five years after starting treatment reaches 93 percentcompared to the moment when there is metastasis (spread) of the tumor to other organs, it is reduced to only 10 percent.
Dr. Flores Delgado highlighted that It is the third most common cancer in the Mexican population and affects men more than women.; Between January and November 2022, 16,796 Family Medicine consultations were granted at the Institute, more than 50,000 in Specialties and 4,965 in Emergencies.
He added that Worldwide, an average of 107,000 cases of colon cancer and 46,000 rectal cancers are diagnosed each year; In Mexico, around 15 thousand cases of colorectal cancer are detected.
He explained that People with colon tumor may present symptoms such as changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or alternating both conditions; presence of mucus or blood in stool, pelvic or abdominal pain, weight loss, or anemia due to bleeding; In these cases, it is urgent that you go to receive medical attention.
Regarding treatment, the coordinator of Medical Programs indicated that multidisciplinary care is provided with specialists in Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology; The main line is the surgical type and, based on the pathology findings, the patient may require some adjuvant such as chemotherapy and in advanced stages, treatment based on monoclonal antibodies is added to the chemotherapy.
With information from the IMSS
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