The decrease in the incidence of colon and rectal cancer causes a late diagnosis in young patients, but this can be prevented: “More young people should be sent for colonoscopy,” says Dr. Ido Mizrahi, director of the rectal and rectal colon surgery service at Hadassah Mount Scopus.
Posted on: 21.3.22 19:43
Colon and rectal cancer is the second most common cause of death from all deaths from cancer, but it is also the only cancer that can be detected at an early stage and thus prevent its development or at least improve its chances of cure. Roi, 43, a resident of Jerusalem, suffered for a year from severe abdominal pain, accompanied by extreme weight loss and bleeding in the stool. Despite all the warning lights, he was not referred for a colonoscopy to help detect the cancer that had developed in his colon.
His wife, Anat, who accompanied him all the time, says: “A year before he was discovered to have violent cancer in the colon, he suffered from terrible stomach pains.
“My husband was referred for an endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract only which showed inflammation in the stomach. Due to this inflammation, he was treated with antibiotics which did not help the symptoms he suffered from. Suffering in the left colon. “
“During the year he continued to lose weight and suddenly began to suffer from constipation that only aggravated the abdominal pain. His body could not contain anymore, we received all the red lights and could not interpret them correctly, neither we nor the doctors we met on the way,” adds Anat. “One morning he woke up with severe abdominal pain and we went to the emergency room at Hadassah Mount Scopus. He underwent a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis and was diagnosed with a tumor in the left colon that causes complete blockage of the colon. Did not have time to send metastases to other parts of the body. From that day our life and that of our family changed from end to end. The recovery was difficult and included chemotherapy and further surgery to close the stoma and reconnect the gastrointestinal tract. “Otherwise, his recovery was much simpler.”
Dr. Ido Mizrahi, senior surgeon in the Department of General Surgery and Director of the Rectal and Rectal Surgery Service at Hadassah Mount Scopus: “In Israel, there is a 4 percent increase in colorectal cancer in young people (under 50). We clearly see that the age of patients compared to previous years is falling below fifty and exceptionally even under the age of 40 and as evidence of this every year about 300 new patients are diagnosed in Israel who are aged 40 and under.
“Of the total surgeries I performed in the past year, about 10 percent were under 45, and 25 percent under 50. In recent years, I have operated on many young people who had clear symptoms of colon and rectal cancer, but because they were young, these symptoms were attributed to benign diseases such as hemorrhoids. “Therefore, they did not undergo a colonoscopy. The delay in diagnosis leads to a late diagnosis that can lead to more complex treatment, more difficult recovery and poorer chances of survival.”
“There are clear symptoms that need to turn on a red light,” Dr. Mizrahi emphasizes.
According to the doctor, common symptoms of colon and rectal cancer include bleeding in the stool, changes in bowel habits: increased constipation; New diarrhea; Change in stool diameter; Pain during bowel movement, in addition – abdominal pain, anemia: Low hemoglobin level in the blood count may indicate bleeding (hidden or visible) from the gastrointestinal tract, lack of appetite and involuntary weight loss.
“Colon and rectal cancer are the only tumors that can be detected in a pre-malignant stage (polyp). The polyp can be removed by a simple colonoscopy examination in which the risks are minor and thus prevent its development,” Hadassah reports.
“Treatment of colon cancer is multidisciplinary and initially includes surgical treatment. Most surgeries are performed at Hadassah today with a minimally invasive approach (laparoscopy). This approach allows for easier and faster recovery for the patient without compromising the quality of surgical resection oncologically. If a patient is required to receive complementary chemotherapy treatment.
Rectal cancer treatment is more complex and multifaceted and we have established a center of excellence for this type of cancer. Each case is discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting that includes specialists in surgery, oncology, and radiology. Resection of the rectum. “
Dr. Ido Mizrahi (Photo: Hadassah Spokeswoman)
Dr. Mizrahi adds: “We are currently the only center in Israel that performs innovative surgery with a minimally invasive approach, to resect the rectum without opening the abdomen at all. The surgery is performed by a number of surgeons who are experts in the field under the direction of Prof. Alon Pikarsky, director of the surgical division at Hadassah, with one team operating on laparoscopic access through the abdomen and the other on laparoscopic access through the anus. The great advantage of the surgery we perform at Hadassah is the level of surgical accuracy and the achievement of tumor-free resection boundaries, all while preserving the rectal sphincters even in extremely low tumors. “Patients benefit from shorter, more accurate surgery, and an incomparably easy recovery compared to the standard surgery that is still performed in other centers in Israel.”
Anat, who went through the whole process with her partner, concludes excitedly: “The only light I had in all the mess was the surgical staff at Hadassah Mount Scopus. A bunch of professional angels, a team of surgeons and the best doctors I saw. I want to thank Dr. Ido Mizrahi who accompanied us in everything. The process is physical and mental. “Hadassah Mount Scopus has become our second home. We truly thank everyone who touched us during the difficult period from the doctors, surgeons and the amazing nursing staff.”
Dr. Mizrahi concludes: “It should be understood that early detection by colonoscopy is the key to eradicating this disease. A disease that is detected in the early stages has an 80 percent or more chance of complete cure. It should be remembered that in the early stages of the disease there are usually no symptoms and hence the American Cancer Society’s recommendation to perform a colonoscopy from the age of 45 for the entire population regardless of symptoms or family history. The test should be passed every 5-7 years. In Israel, the current recommendation is to perform a colonoscopy from the age of 50, and unfortunately there are no guidelines at all for performing screening tests among young people under the age of 50. “
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