Colorectal cancer is rapidly increasing in both incidence and mortality rates. What’s more concerning is that this type of cancer is notably becoming more common among younger individuals in Vietnam and around the world. In fact, more and more cases of colorectal cancer are being reported in people under 40 years old in Vietnam, dispelling the misconception that it is a "disease of the elderly."

According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 report, Vietnam records about 16,835 new cases of colorectal cancer each year. If the disease is detected at an early stage, the five-year survival rate can exceed 90%. However, 20–30% of patients are diagnosed at the metastatic stage, which reduces the effectiveness of treatment and shrinks the chances of survival.

The "seeds" silently leading to cancer

Colorectal cancer often originates from adenomatous polyps—benign growths that can potentially progress into cancer if not addressed. This process can take 10 to 15 years. Detecting and removing polyps early can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 90%.

Prof. Dr. Phương likens: “Colorectal polyps are like 'seeds' of cancer. When the polyps are small, removing them via endoscopy is very simple and effective. But if the polyps develop into malignant tumors, the treatment becomes more complex, costly, and potentially much more dangerous.”

According to Prof. Dr. Phương, modern lifestyles are a major factor in increasing the risk of this disease among younger people, including: eating a lot of red meat, consuming few vegetables, lack of exercise, smoking, and drinking alcohol.

Who should be screened and how?

Prof. Dr. Phương believes that individuals aged 45 and above, even without symptoms, should undergo cancer screening by:

• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) once a year;

• Colonoscopy every 10 years if results are normal;

• Those with a family history of colorectal cancer should start screening 10 years before the age at which their relative was diagnosed;

• Individuals with polyps or chronic inflammatory bowel disease should have a colonoscopy every 1–3 years depending on their risk level.

Currently, in addition to colonoscopy—the gold standard for diagnosis—there are many other effective screening methods, such as: FIT/FOBT, DNA methylation testing in stool, SEPTIN9 gene testing, or tumor marker tests.

Prof. Dr. Phương warns: "People should not wait until symptoms such as stomach pain, blood in stools, or weight loss appear before getting checked, because by that time, the disease may have already reached an advanced stage."

To protect health and prevent colorectal cancer, Prof. Dr. Phương recommends that people:

• Maintain a high-fiber diet, reduce red meat and processed foods;

• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily to stimulate bowel movements;

• Avoid smoking and alcohol;

• Follow screening schedules based on risk groups.

Colorectal cancer is not a "death sentence" if detected early. Regular screening combined with a healthy lifestyle is the "strongest weapon" to fight this disease.

"Act today – because health waits for no one!" Prof. Dr. Phương urges.