Doctor about intestinal cancer: “Those numbers in Latvia are unforgivable! About 70% of patients die due to late diagnosis”

The incidence of intestinal cancer is increasing in the world and also in Latvia, as a gastroenterologist and endoscopy specialist emphasized in the TV24 program “Dr.Apinis” Ilona Vilkoitediscussing the treatment of bowel cancer and early detection with a colonoscopy procedure.

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“In Latvia, we diagnose more than 1,000 new cases every year. And what is bad in Latvia is that a large part of them die because bowel cancer is diagnosed very late. Those numbers in Latvia are unforgivable! About 70% of patients die due to late diagnosis. Therefore, my colleagues and I are trying in every way to dispel these myths – to break this stigma that colonoscopy is something that should be feared,” stated Vilkoite.

Today, colonoscopy is said to be an “absolutely benign and even pleasant” examination. “The most difficult part is to prepare – to drink that laxative liquid, that remedy, so that we can properly examine the intestine. In order for the examination to be of high quality, the intestine must be empty and clean. And then we will find even the smallest changes. We find even millimeter polyps – two, three millimeters in size, we see them perfectly with modern technology. Of course, the smaller the polyp, the easier it is to remove. In this way, we have already cut off all the possibilities of monitoring the polyp for cancer,” explained the gastroenterologist and endoscopy specialist in the TV24 program “Dr. Apinis”.

The doctor explained in detail that if a “small, millimeter lump – a polyp” is not removed in time, then a serious illness – cancer – develops from it. That is why doctors in Latvia are actively talking about it, there is also an intestinal screen available.

“A patient should start paying attention to his colon at the age of 50. In addition, at the age of 50, the patient is recommended not to undergo a colonoscopy, but a stool test, when the patient goes to the family doctor and is given a kit, and then the patient can determine at home whether he has hidden blood in his stool, which could indicate a potential problem in the colon or not. . And the patient is sent for a colonoscopy only if the test is positive, if there is so-called hidden blood,” said Vilkoite.

On the other hand, the second approach, which is justified and accepted in many countries, for example in the USA, where the first colonoscopy for a patient, instead of a fecal test, is performed already at the age of 45.

“Right now, there is already active talk about lowering this age threshold, because we are faced with the fact that, unfortunately, bowel cancer is affecting younger and younger patients, and we can see this in our statistics as well. A young man around the age of 35 will not imagine that he has cancer. If he is bleeding, the first thought will be that it is a hemorrhoid,” said the doctor.

“That’s why I’m grateful that I have responsible colleagues – proctologists, who also send young patients for a colonoscopy to exclude the fact that the patient does not have cancer somewhere deeper in the intestine, and that it is only hemorrhoids that cause these symptoms. Then the patient remains in his sight and relevant treatment methods are applied,” said gastroenterologist and endoscopy specialist Vilkoite in the TV24 program “Dr. Apinis”, which talked about bowel cancer and its detection.

You can watch the full program “Dr. Apinis” on TV24 on Monday, May 6, at 13:00!

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