Large Bowel Cancer
The first thing to emphasise is that cancer is rare. However, it is a risk that has to be taken seriously but with regular supervision by the doctor, action can be taken before cancer develops.
The medical facts are as follows. Cancer is a risk only in patients with extensive disease. There is no increased risk in the first eight years after the start of the disease. Every year after that about 1% of patients will develop it so that at about 20 years after the illness started about 10% of patients will be affected. It is now possible to examine the whole large bowel with a lighted instrument (colonoscope). This has enabled a very accurate assessment of the state of the mucosa. Biopsies (tissue samples) can be taken from any area of mucosa and these can then be examined under the microscope. Changes suggesting that cancer may be imminent can be seen by the pathologist.
Thus it is now possible in some cases to anticipate the development of cancer and therefore to enable action to be taken before it actually occurs. The action is
surgery to remove the large bowel.
The first thing to emphasise is that cancer is rare. However, it is a risk that has to be taken seriously but with regular supervision by the doctor, action can be taken before cancer develops.
The medical facts are as follows. Cancer is a risk only in patients with extensive disease. There is no increased risk in the first eight years after the start of the disease. Every year after that about 1% of patients will develop it so that at about 20 years after the illness started about 10% of patients will be affected. It is now possible to examine the whole large bowel with a lighted instrument (colonoscope). This has enabled a very accurate assessment of the state of the mucosa. Biopsies (tissue samples) can be taken from any area of mucosa and these can then be examined under the microscope. Changes suggesting that cancer may be imminent can be seen by the pathologist.
Thus it is now possible in some cases to anticipate the development of cancer and therefore to enable action to be taken before it actually occurs. The action is
surgery to remove the large bowel.
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