## Why are people getting sick more often? Bowel health is a hot topic these days. On the one hand, many people eat healthy and are picky about the quality of food they consume. On the other hand, rigid diets, uncontrolled intake of additives, bad habits, and overeating lead to an increasing number of cancers. And only one thing can ensure intestinal health — timely screening to detect tumors before they begin to grow. Prevention was sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is clear that the number of patients with bowel cancer has increased dramatically. This often occurs because the disease was not detected at the initial stage, when it could still be beaten. ## How does this happen? In one section of the bowel, normal tissue turns into a small outgrowth called a polyp, which can then develop into a malignant tumor. This process usually takes a long time, often 10-15 years, and has no clear symptoms. Therefore, when signs of the disease appear, it is usually already at an advanced stage. > Symptoms of bowel cancer can include blood in the stool, abdominal or back pain, weight loss, anemia, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea. ## Who is at risk? The nature of bowel cancer is not yet fully understood, but it is known that people whose ===close relatives have had colorectal cancer and patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, are at higher risk and should be screened annually. Everyone else should be screened every five years, starting at age 45. ## What screening options are available? A colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for detecting bowel disease. In order to examine the colon, the doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end. During the examination, the doctor may take a tissue sample or remove any polyps found. As the procedure is quite uncomfortable, it is often carried out under medicated sleep. An alternative to colonoscopy is a CT scan of the colon. It has the advantage of being painless and quick. However, most insurances do not cover it, it is slightly less informative and, of course, no additional manipulation can be performed during the virtual examination. Capsule endoscopy is also used to examine sections of the small intestine, which allows the doctor to visualize areas of the intestine inaccessible to a traditional colonoscopy. > The preparation for these tests is the same. A number of foods must be excluded from your diet three-four days in advance, and you must fast and drink laxatives the day before the procedure. ## Is it possible to prevent cancer? There is no universal regimen to prevent cancer. A healthy lifestyle, physical activity, avoiding smoking, and moderate consumption of red meat and alcohol reduce the risks, but are not a guarantee to prevent cancer. The most important thing is to remember to get a check-up on time so that you can detect high risk spots before they escalate into a more advanced form. After all, it's worth enduring one day of discomfort for the sake of peace of mind for years to come.