San José, Costa Rica. Julio, 2016.

“It´s because I suffer from colitis…” With that phrase and a speedy diagnosis, many people open the medicine cabinet of their home or go to the pharmacy to self-medicate themselves, without suspecting that in reality it could be colon cancer.

As Doctor Mauricio González Brenes, oncologist of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital, explains, this type of ailment has been increasing over the last two decades in Costa Rica, due to the changes in our diet. As the specialist specifies, today more fast foods are consumed, more fried foods and more trans fats, which make the intestinal transit slower. Therefore, these carcinogens remain longer in the intestine, as well as the fecal matter (especially if one suffers from constipation), so that the body is more exposed to toxic substances. In addition, if someone in the family has suffered from colon cancer or polyps in the intestine, the risk increases.

The problem becomes even more serious if we consider that colon cancer presents symptoms that are usually confused with other illnesses, and there is no specific sign that can determine if we are facing this type of illness.

According to Dr. González, the symptoms depend on which side of the colon the tumor is found. If it is on the right-hand side, there is pain (like a colic) and blood mixed with the feces. In addition, due to the bleeding, there is usually anemia. The first symptom is usually associated with hemorrhoids, so that people do not pay too much attention. You can also feel a mass in the area.

If the tumor is more to the left side or cross-sectional, this tends to grow circularly and block, little by little, the conduit through which the feces exit. That is why, although it also usually causes colic, what characterizes it is the change in the feces, which are usually thinner or so dry that they harden and come out as small balls. Periods of constipation with periods of diarrhea usually alternate. Different from the tumors on the right-hand side, in this case bleeding is not frequent.

In both cases, the greater risk is confusing these so-common symptoms and self-medicate. This does not only result in a loss of valuable time, but it ignores the problem until it comes a time when the tumor closes and the feces can no longer go through, so that an emergency surgical intervention is needed.

As the specialist underlines, in any case, “good surgical treatment is very important when addressing this type of illness, with the purpose of making a good cleansing of the lymphatic glands and the arteries that are related with the tumor, since this is the mechanism it uses to travel to other parts, beginning with the liver.” The medical treatment known as chemotherapy is important to supplement this effort.

The good news is that there has been important medical progress in the treatment of cancer colon and, even if there are roots in the liver already, the disease can be controlled with a comprehensive treatment.

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If you wish to request an appointment in any of the medical specialties, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, by email at citas@clinicabiblica.com or via live chat at the website: www.clinicabiblica.com