Tomorrow, Sunday, the streets of Beirut will witness an awareness day under the title “Walk to Prevent Colon Cancer”, which will include various activities such as plays, entertainment activities and prizes, in addition to sports activities through a “mini-marathon”, and free screenings for colon and rectal cancer.
The activity, which will restore a little joy to the streets and markets of Beirut, is organized by the “Said” association concerned with awareness against colon cancer, which provides free colon cancer screenings throughout the year, by providing free FIT examinations in more than thirty laboratories in Lebanon, in addition to supporting In the price of a gastroscopy for each person who has a positive test result in private hospitals participating in the campaign at very reasonable prices. Various supportive associations are participating in the campaign, including the “Yaza” association, which called on its social media pages for extensive participation in the “Walk to Prevent Colon Cancer” activity.
Full recovery
The founder and director of the “Saeed” Association, Mrs. Hana Nimr, said in an interview with “Lebanon 24” that the activity aims to highlight the importance of sport in reducing the disease, especially if it is detected early. Early detection of this type of cancer in particular often leads to a full recovery for the patient.
Nimr, who lost her husband due to colon cancer, confirmed that colon cancer is increasing a lot and has become the second cancer in the world, which necessitates strengthening its prevention, and the need to detect it early through a very easy examination, to avoid what happened with her husband, who died due to a poor diagnosis of his condition until the cancer took hold. over his entire body.
FIT Examination
Nimr stresses the necessity of conducting a FIT examination for every person over forty-five years of age, noting that “the possibility of cancer has become in every home by a large percentage, and today everyone is invited to support cancer patients by walking through an activity on Sunday to break all taboos about cancer, and to say that cancer has Therefore, the annual walking activity that we do is in order to save lives and raise awareness in the community.”
National cancer strategy
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, pointed out, during the launch of the annual campaign for early detection of colon cancer, yesterday, that work is underway with the “Saeed” Association and a number of partners to integrate the early examination, which provides early diagnosis of colon cancer, into the basket of health services provided in the primary care program. Which includes mammograms and pap smears inexpensively.
He also pointed out the importance of developing colonoscopy in government hospitals in the next phase. The Minister of Public Health stressed that “the issue of cancer goes beyond the problem of securing medication when diagnosing the disease, rather it requires a comprehensive strategy starting from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment and life after treatment.”
He announced the formation of a committee “its mission is to develop a national strategy for cancer within a period of four months, similar to what other developed countries are doing, provided that cooperation takes place with international experts and partners in implementation of what was agreed upon during the recent visit to France with the National Cancer Institute and the Curie Institute in Paris and the Center Cancer Research of the World Health Organization Lyon.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that form inside the colon. Over time, some of these polyps may become colon cancers. Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests for early detection of cancer.
symptoms
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:
1) A persistent change in bowel movement, whether diarrhea or constipation, or a change in the consistency of stool.
2) Anal bleeding, or blood in the stool.
3) Persistent abdominal disturbances, such as painful cramps, gas, or pain.
4) A feeling that the bowel does not completely empty.
5) Weakness or fatigue.
6) Unexplained weight loss.
treatment
Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer, a term that combines colon cancer with rectal cancer, and it begins in the rectum. In the case of colon cancer, there are many treatments available to help control it, including surgery, radiation therapy and drug therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
