Doctor advises on 5 common types of digestive tract cancer and how to prevent them

Gastrointestinal cancers include cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and anus, but the most common are cancers of the stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, and esophagus.

Gastrointestinal cancer is easily confused with other gastrointestinal diseases and often develops silently. (Source: SKDS)

Gastrointestinal cancers are easily confused with other gastrointestinal diseases and often develop silently. Gastrointestinal cancers account for 30% of all cancers, often occurring in both men and women. This group of diseases can be cured if detected early and treated promptly and correctly.

Gastrointestinal cancers include oral cavity, pharynx, and anal cancers, but the most common are stomach, colon, liver, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers.

Signs of gastrointestinal cancer

Signs of digestive tract cancer are often vague and easily confused with other diseases or common digestive tract diseases such as stomach ulcers and digestive disorders.

Therefore, medical experts have given some warning signs of gastrointestinal cancer that should not be ignored:

- Abdominal pain - The most typical sign of digestive cancer

- Unexplained weight loss

- Physical weakness or fatigue

- Bloody or tarry stools

- Have a tumor in the abdomen

- Bowel disorders

Flatulence, indigestion

However, if gastrointestinal cancer is only in the early stages, small tumors may not cause any specific symptoms. Therefore, patients need to screen for gastrointestinal cancer to detect the disease and have an appropriate treatment plan.

Common types of gastrointestinal cancers

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. Colorectal cancer is considered a dangerous disease for digestive health. It begins as benign polyps in the colon or rectum, gradually turning into malignant tumors. Although it is a dangerous disease, early detection can significantly improve survival rates.

Colorectal cancer is more likely to cause symptoms in the distant metastatic stage, when the cancer has developed or spread, the most typical manifestations are: diarrhea, constipation, flat stools lasting for many days. Fatigue due to anemia, rapid weight loss without clear cause. Blood in the stool or dark color.

Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a dangerous disease that aggressively attacks the lining of the esophagus until it spreads out of control. Early stage esophageal cancer often has no symptoms.

Therefore, most patients are diagnosed when the cancer has reached an advanced or late stage, with the following symptoms: difficulty swallowing, difficulty swallowing, difficulty swallowing food, feeling of something stuck in the esophagus; pain in the chest behind the sternum when swallowing.

Other symptoms may also occur when the tumor has invaded other organs such as:

Invasive tracheal cancer causes tracheoesophageal fistula, cough, and difficulty breathing;

Cancer invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve causes hoarseness;

Cancer invades or metastasizes to other locations causing pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, chest pain, abdominal pain, bone pain...

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer often has no obvious symptoms in its early stages until it has progressed to an advanced stage. Early detection is difficult without regular health check-ups.

Therefore, each person needs to take effective preventive measures such as: quitting smoking, maintaining a reasonable weight, building a balanced diet for themselves... to minimize the risk of disease.

Liver cancer

Liver cancer occurs due to liver infections, chronic hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Regular screening for hepatitis infections, hepatitis B vaccination, and lifestyle modifications such as limiting stimulant use and maintaining a healthy weight are key factors in preventing this deadly cancer.

Stomach cancer

Like other types of digestive tract cancer, stomach cancer often has unclear symptoms, easily confused with other diseases. If stomach cancer is detected early, treatment will become easier.

Symptoms may be in the early stages of stomach cancer:

- Stomach-ache.

- Belching, heartburn and feeling full after every meal.

- Abnormal bowel movements.

- Anorexia, loss of appetite.

- Sudden weight loss.

- Body tired, weak

How to limit gastrointestinal cancer

We always raise awareness about the importance of testing, ultrasound, endoscopy, specialist examination, and regular health check-ups of digestive functions when we feel there are abnormal signs to detect early and intervene promptly when there is a disease.

Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Exercise regularly with physical activity.

Do not smoke, limit alcohol.

Maintain weight.

Perform regular gastrointestinal cancer screening.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bac-si-tu-van-ve-5-loai-ung-thu-duong-tieu-hoa-thuong-gap-va-cach-phong-ngua-276783.html