The second most common cancer in the world among all oncological diseases is bowel cancer. The latest developments of Israeli oncologists have made it possible to increase the effectiveness of treatment of this type of cancer by up to 90%. Even at serious stages, Israeli doctors achieve stable remission and increase the patient’s life expectancy.
Risk factors
Malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract mainly affect the elderly. However, cases of bowel cancer are also not uncommon among young people due to the presence of at least one risk factor in a young person.
- Polyposis, chronic inflammatory processes in the intestines and frequent constipation.
- Smoking. Nicotine and other harmful substances from cigarette smoke mix with saliva and enter the intestines, provoking the development of cancer.
- Alcohol. Excessive and frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages often leads to the development of cancer in all digestive organs.
- Obesity and low physical activity.
Bowel cancer also has genetic risk factors. If such a disease has been diagnosed in the ancestors, the person should undergo regular routine check-up.
Symptoms of bowel cancer
- Causeless nausea and vomiting with blood.
- Constant discomfort in the intestines.
- Iron deficiency anemia.
- Lack of appetite.
- Diarrhea and bloody feces.
- Rapid weight loss and weakness.
Diagnostics
- Immunological and cytological laboratory tests.
- Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography (CT, MRI, and PET).
- Endoscopic ultrasound examination (US);
- Biopsy of intestinal tissues.
- Colonoscopy.
- Rectoromanoscopy (endoscopy of the lower intestine).
- Video capsule endoscopy (mini-camera examination)
Treatment of bowel cancer in Israel
The effectiveness of therapy for this cancer depends on the degree of development of the tumor. Sometimes even a couple of extra weeks of delay can seriously complicate the entire therapeutic process. In cancer centers and clinics in Israel, a treatment for bowel cancer begins immediately on the 3rd-4th day after the diagnosis. Israeli doctors practice a number of the most effective surgical, non-invasive and combined techniques.
- Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy). In Israel, up to 85% of all operations to remove tumors in the intestines are performed in such a gentle closed way, including by the Da Vinci robot surgeon.
- Radiation therapy. The high-precision linear accelerator targets only cancer cells, without touching living healthy tissues.
- Gentle chemotherapy with a new generation of drugs. Israeli oncologists select an individual course from almost a hundred modern chemotherapy drugs that have a low level of negative impact on the health and condition of the body.
- Targeted therapy – special drugs attack only cancer cells at the molecular level.
- Immunotherapy (biotherapy) – medical enhancement of one’s own immune response to fight cancer.
The treatment course for bowel cancer is made individually and only by a multidiscipline team, in order to avoid the risk of mistakes. Therapy can consist of several methods simultaneously, depending on the stage of development of the neoplasm and its size. It is equally important to achieve a stable remission to conduct a full-fledged rehabilitation. The climate of Israel and the high level of service favor a comfortable full-fledged recovery after a course of chemotherapy and surgery.