Singer spoke with Fantástico about battling bowel cancer. Early diagnosis offers up to a 95% chance of cure
The latest edition of Fantastic, which aired this Sunday (12), featured an emotional interview by Preta Gil with Maju Coutinho. The singer took advantage of the chat with the journalist to talk about the moment she received the diagnosis of bowel cancer.
“I was very resigned. I understood from the first moment that life was giving me a sign of something. I never understood that it was something that would bring me down, I understood that it was something that would transform me. I am a woman of great faith and I think it was a divine gift for me to stop,” he said.
He also said he hopes to win the fight against cancer. “I won’t die from this, I’m sure I’ll live a long time and we’ll still party a lot,” she said.
bowel cancer
According to INCA (National Cancer Institute), bowel cancer is the second most common type among women, after breast cancer. While, in men, this is the third most common cancer. The condition includes tumors that start in the large intestine (colon), rectum (end of intestine) and anus and is the result of malignant changes in the cells lining the body.
Oncologist Dr. Artur Ferreira indicates the main causes of bowel cancer:
- Overweight and obesity;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- To smoke;
- Alcoholism;
- High consumption of red and processed meats;
- Low in fiber and vegetables;
- Diabetes;
- Hepatitis B and C;
- bacterial infections;
- Contagion of HPV – Human Papillomavirus.
symptoms and diagnosis
Especially in the case of bowel cancer, early detection is the key to fighting the disease. “These are diseases that are potentially curable when diagnosed in their initial stage. And practically incurable when they are spread throughout the body, in metastases,” warns Artur. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye out for the main signs of the disease.
Oncologist Renata D’Alpino points out that blood in the stool can be an early sign that something is not right for your health. “Many people usually attribute this event to other conventional causes, such as hemorrhoids, and end up putting off seeking medical advice and carrying out specific tests. This means that many people only discover cancer at an advanced stage,” he clarifies she.
According to the Ministry of Health, in addition to the presence of blood in the stool, initial symptoms include:
- Abdominal mass (tumor);
- Abdominal pain;
- Change in bowel habits.
In the interview with Fantastic, Preta told how he discovered cancer. She claims to have had migraine attacks that were confused with headaches and high blood pressure, leading her to seek medical attention. The next day when he woke up, he went to the bathroom when he felt something running down his leg. When he looked, the singer realized it was blood.
When a condition similar to Preta’s develops, or in the event of any of the symptoms described above, it is imperative to go to the hospital immediately. This is because, often, the tumor is only discovered later, in the face of more serious symptoms, warns Renata. In such cases, the fight against the disease is more difficult. If diagnosed early, there is up to a 95% chance of cure.
Treatment
Preta also revealed that he is already halfway through his cancer treatment and detailed what the next steps will be: “I have already done four cycles of chemotherapy. There are eight cycles of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiotherapy, then there is the surgery to remove the tumor. So, there’s at least six to eight months of cure. But that’s all with a prognosis of cure. And I have no other vision in my head than cure.”
Treatment of bowel cancer will depend on the type and location of the tumor and also how it presents, i.e. localized or disseminated. However, the approach may include surgery, chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy), targeted drug therapies, and immunotherapy.
March Blue Navy and bowel cancer prevention
The March Azul Marinho campaign seeks to promote awareness of bowel cancer or colorectal cancer. According to INCA, Brazil registers around 41,000 new cases each year. Therefore, the month of March is an opportunity to publicize ways to prevent the disease, which includes eliminating its causes and risk factors, and adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Also, include the colonoscopy exam in your file verify helps prevent and diagnose the disease early. Made with a flexible tube and a camera at the end, where it is introduced into the intestine, it takes pictures that reveal the presence of any changes. Thus allowing the removal of polyps and biopsies of suspicious lesions, even before the evolution into cancer.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
