The high incidence of colorectal cancer in Taiwan is closely related to adenomatous polyps. According to 10 years of domestic health examination data, polyps are detected in 7 out of every 10 people on average, with nearly 20% of them being adenomatous polyps, which are prone to becoming cancerous. Colorectal cancer has ranked among the top two cancers in incidence for 16 consecutive years, and in recent years, there has been a trend of younger patients, with nearly half of those detected being under 50 years old. The detection rate in men is 46.28% higher than in women, and the rate continues to rise with age.
Maintaining a healthy diet may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. (Photo / Provided by Heho Health)
Cheng Naiyuan, Chief Medical Officer of Lian An Preventive Medicine Institution, pointed out that adenomatous polyps are the primary cause of colorectal cancer, with over 80% of colorectal cancers related to these polyps. To reduce the risk of polyps becoming cancerous, it is recommended to undergo the first colonoscopy after the age of 30. Regular screenings can reduce the risk of cancer by nearly 60%. Additionally, changing lifestyle habits is crucial, including increasing water intake, maintaining regular bowel movements, replacing red meat with white meat, and avoiding ultra-processed foods, all of which help prevent polyp growth and colorectal cancer.
Smoking is one of the main culprits that cause colorectal cancer. (Photo / Provided by Heho Health)
In clinical cases, Ms. Ye, 30, had no family history but was diagnosed with stage 1 colorectal cancer due to a colonoscopy. Mr. Huang, 38, failed to detect his polyps early and was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Through colonoscopy and healthy eating habits, the risk of polyps becoming cancerous can be effectively reduced, preventing cancer before it occurs.
