This is an automatically translated article.
A percentage of colon cancer after being thoroughly treated has the potential to recur. Therefore, the follow-up after treatment for colon cancer is of great significance to detect signs of colon cancer recurrence or distant metastasis and plan for re-treatment.
1. Causes of recurrent colon cancer
Colon cancer after treatment still has a certain recurrence rate. Cancer recurrence is usually detected within 2-3 years after the end of treatment, some cases recur after a long time, sometimes decades.
1.1. Objective causes Prior treatment for colon cancer can be considered successful. However, some remaining microscopic cancer cells that are not detected by the means of diagnosis and periodic screening tests, may be the cause of the recurrence of colon cancer at the site. old or metastasized to other organs of the body.
A common feature is that these residual cancer cells do not grow for a period of time (“hibernation”), after which they multiply uncontrollably causing the cancer to return.
1.2. Subjective causes Recurrence of colon cancer may stem from the fact that the patient has high risk factors for recurrence:
Improper nutrition, Inactivity, Excessive use of alcohol, smoking Leaves No follow-up and periodic screening after treatment Colon cancer can recur locally (at the site of old colon lesions), recur locally (metastasize to nearby lymph nodes) or metastasize to distant muscles. other organs in the body.
2. What are the symptoms of recurrent colon cancer?
Patients after being thoroughly treated for colon cancer need to know the signs of colon cancer recurrence in order to be examined, carefully examined and have a plan for intervention and treatment again.
Symptoms of local, regional recurrence of colon cancer include:
Gastrointestinal disorders: As with symptoms at the onset of the disease, patients with recurrent colon cancer may present with symptoms. Digestive disorders such as constipation, irregular diarrhea. Bloody stools, thin and narrow stools: Patients with recurrent colon cancer may have symptoms of bloody stools with mucus, stool deformation such as thin flat stools. Abdominal pain, or bloating, gas: These are signs that can be seen in patients with colon cancer recurrence after treatment, making the patient feel tired. Anorexia, weakness, weight loss: Patients with colon cancer, after being thoroughly treated and healthy for a while, suddenly lose their appetite, they need to see a doctor immediately to be checked and ruled out cancer. colon recurrence. Prolonged anorexia makes patients weak, tired, and lose weight. In addition to local and regional recurrence, colon cancer can also progress to distant metastases to other organs in the body such as liver, lung,... In this case, the patient may have signs of :
Right flank pain Nausea, vomiting Jaundice , yellow conjunctival eyes Edema, abdominal distention Cough, difficulty breathing
3. What to do when detecting recurrent colon cancer?
It is essential that when detecting abnormal signs, go to the hospital immediately for examination and necessary tests to diagnose the disease. Patients who are diagnosed with recurrent colon cancer need to calmly face this undesirable situation and discuss with their doctor about the upcoming treatment. The doctor will consider to give indications such as chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitor therapy to treat recurrent colon cancer.4. Measures to prevent recurrence after colon cancer treatment
Some measures for colon cancer patients to note after being thoroughly treated:
Periodic follow-up of colorectal cancer under the guidance of specialists: Periodic follow-up and follow-up help patients be checked after treatment and screen for colon cancer recurrence. Patients after radical surgery for colon cancer are required to be re-examined every 3-6 months for the first 3 years. The frequency of re-examination will gradually decrease to once a year when the disease is stable and enters the 4th year. Follow a healthy diet: There is no specific diet to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence. However, a menu consisting of lots of green vegetables, fruits, and whole grains in addition to fish, chicken, or red meat used in moderation is considered more appropriate for patients after colon surgery when compared with colon surgery. compared with those who ate a diet high in fat, sugar, red meat, or processed foods. Supplement with essential vitamins and minerals such as: Vitamin D, Calcium. Supplementing with Vitamin D and calcium helps patients after colon cancer treatment reduce the risk of disease recurrence. Improve health with exercise and exercise habits: This not only enhances the health of cancer patients colon has been treated, but also helps patients have an optimistic spirit, reduce stress in life. Quit smoking, limit alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol are factors that are strongly associated with the risk of various types of cancer in general and colon cancer in particular, so colon cancer patients need to limit their risk of cancer. Limit the use of alcohol or other alcoholic beverages to the lowest possible level, along with quitting smoking, to avoid colorectal cancer recurrence after treatment.
