Colorectal cancer, Korea's 2nd largest cancer, is on the rise...If it's even stage four, we'll open up a cure
Mar 15, 2025
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According to the results of overseas studies, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Korea between the ages of 20 and 49 is 12.9 per 100,000 people, and the number of colorectal cancer continues to increase, ranking first among 42 countries surveyed, so caution is needed in all adult age groups.
◇Suspicious of diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, unknown weight loss
Colorectal cancer has no symptoms until it progresses to some extent. That's why it's important to have periodic health checkups and maintain healthy eating habits. Symptoms of colorectal cancer vary widely, depending on the systemic symptoms that appear throughout the body and the location of the cancer.
Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation may occur, and bloody excrement may occur. Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as bowel cramps, gas, or pain, or feeling that the stool remains after defecation. Nausea or vomiting, chronic fatigue, and weight loss are also common symptoms in colon cancer. Since these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as hemorrhoids or inflammatory bowel disease, it is recommended to consult a specialist if symptoms appear.
◇ Obesity, Western Diet, etc. are the main reasons...The incidence rate is high, but the mortality rate is low
Since the causes of colorectal cancer vary, it cannot be concluded for specific reasons. From genetic predisposition, processed meats and unresected eating habits, smoking, obesity, stress, and unhealthy lifestyle habits can contribute to colon cancer. The reason why the incidence of colorectal cancer among young people in Korea is high worldwide is the rapidly increasing obese population and the westernization of eating habits. In addition, there is an increasing number of cases of early diagnosis of colorectal cancer by performing colonoscopy (health examination) from a young age.
Fortunately, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Korea is high but the mortality rate is low due to the development of medical technology and the advancement of treatments. The five-year relative survival rate of colorectal cancer in Korea was reported to be 74.6% as of 2021, and if detected early, it is more than 90% and stage 3 or more colorectal cancer also has a survival rate of more than 80%.
◇4th contribution opens the treatment path if surgery is possible...There is a trend of fewer complications and improving quality of life
Colorectal cancer mainly begins in the mucous membrane and gradually invades into the deep layer of the barrier. In the early stages of cancer confined to the mucous membrane, most of them can be cured with only endoscopic resection. However, stage 2 cancer, which invades the submucosal layer or is accompanied by risk factors in biopsy after surgery, is treated with chemotherapy in parallel. In the case of rectal cancer, additional radiation therapy may be performed.
Generally speaking, stage 4 cancer is called terminal stage, but stage 4 does not necessarily mean terminal stage for colon cancer. This is because colon cancer can be operated if it can be resected even if there is metastasis to other organs. In the case of recurrence, the characteristic of colorectal cancer is that if it can be removed surgically, the path of treatment opens up.
Targeted treatments are also contributing to the improvement of colon cancer survival. In addition to simply extending the survival period of patients with metastatic cancer and recurrence cancer, patients with stage 4 colorectal cancer, who could not be treated surgically, are also increasingly able to operate due to targeted treatments, increasing the cure rate.
Min Byung-wook, a professor of colorectal surgery at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "In our hospital, the 5-year survival rate reaches 87% in the 3rd stage and 45% in the 4th stage. Even if colon cancer recurs, long-term survival is often maintained through active chemotherapy and repeated surgery through multidisciplinary treatment." It is important for various clinical and medical staff, including internal medicine and surgery, to find and determine the optimal timing of treatment and surgery. The will of patients is also important."
The large intestine is a colon located in the abdominal cavity and a rectum located in the pelvis, and the rectum is located deep in the pelvis, adjacent to the urology area, and many autonomic nerves responsible for physiological phenomena and sexual functions such as ureter, nerves, and blood vessels pass around it. Therefore, in the process of resecting cancer, the nerve and urinary parts are inevitably damaged or have to be removed. In addition, anal function is often lost after surgery. This is why cancer has been successfully treated by surgery, but the quality of life is often deteriorated after cancer treatment due to artificial anus or sexual dysfunction. With the widespread expansion of robotic surgery, these surgical complications have decreased, and the quality of life of patients is also improving.
◇ Periodic health checkups are important...If you have a family history, you must have an early checkup
Like other diseases, the best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to have a regular medical examination. Colorectal cancer is in its 60s, but adenoma, the seed of colorectal cancer, is in its 50s. Therefore, it is recommended that adults over 50 years of age undergo colonoscopy at least once every 5 years, even if they do not have any symptoms. However, if you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, if you have polyps more than 1 cm, or if you have multiple polyps, colonoscopy is recommended every 1 to 3 years.
In particular, if the parents had colorectal cancer, it is reported that children are three to four times more likely to develop colorectal cancer and seven times more likely to develop it between brothers. Therefore, if you have colorectal cancer patients in your family, you should be more careful and prepare closely through early examination.
In addition, to prevent colorectal cancer, it is desirable to improve diet and maintain physical activity appropriate for strength, such as smoking cessation, abstaining from alcohol and eating dietary fiber instead of processed meat.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
