Fibrogastroscopy (FGS): is an examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (the first bend of the small intestine). A thin, flexible tube (fibrogastroscopy) is passed through the mouth, into the esophagus and reaches the stomach and duodenum, looking for pathologies of these organs such as: gastroesophageal reflux, peptic and duodenal ulcers, benign and malignant tumors. Fibrogastroscopy allows specialists to take samples for histopathology (for diagnostic verification) and perform various therapeutic procedures (for appropriate treatment).

Indications for performing fibrogastroscopy:

Fibrogastroscopy is prescribed after a specialist examination and is performed mainly in case of: difficulty swallowing, swelling and pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Preparation and execution:

The test is performed on an empty stomach, so the patient should not eat for at least 10 hours before the procedure. It is a short test that lasts about 5-15 minutes.

Initially, the patient's mouth and throat are anesthetized with local anesthesia. To prevent the instrument from being injured, a guard is placed in the mouth, through which it gradually passes into the esophagus, stomach and the beginning of the duodenum. The procedure is absolutely painless. A slight feeling of nausea is possible.

1 - How should we eat if we suffer from ulcers?

In general, the diet is free because the disease is not specifically linked to food. Avoid or reduce acidic or very acidic foods such as sauces, citrus fruits, vinegar, spicy foods, dishes rich in fat... It is important to eat regular meals and consume small amounts of food between meals.

2 - What harms us if we suffer from this disease?

-We are harmed by a group of drugs called anti-inflammatories or painkillers, such as: Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Voltaren and the like.

- Smoking is very harmful because it directly affects the recurrence of the disease and makes it very difficult to cure.

- Alcoholism and drug use are also harmful.

3 - So should we use aspirin and similar drugs?!

Medicines should always be used under the advice of a doctor, when he deems it necessary. Aspirin is a drug widely used in the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including: heart disease, blood vessel disease, rheumatism, etc. It is the doctor who recommends it depending on the disease or who prohibits its use in case of complications. So it is good to understand that it is the DOCTOR who decides whether to use Aspirin when it is necessary or whether to suspend it when it causes complications.

4- Is peptic ulcer curable?

Yes, nowadays ulcers are a curable disease. They close completely within 3-4 weeks, the pain disappears and the patient feels much better. The above-mentioned attention to a healthy lifestyle means that they are repeated rarely and at short intervals.

5- Are antibiotics also used to treat ulcers?

Yes, antibiotics are used that are precisely defined in international treatment schemes for the disease. The method and time of use are determined by the doctor. Not all types of antibiotics are used for treatment.

6- Why are antibiotics used?

They are used because ulcer disease is closely related to a microbe called Helicobacter pylori. This microbe must be eradicated so that the ulcer does not return after treatment and healing.

7- Is this microbe found in the blood?

No, the microbe never passes into the blood, so it is not necessary for it to be present in the bloodstream. If necessary, it is searched for in the stomach with directly gastric methods, or indirectly gastric, through specific analyses of the feces or breath. Finally, the presence or absence of Helicobacter in the stomach is searched for.

8- And in the blood?

Antibodies against this microbe are found in the blood. They are present even when the microbe is no longer in the stomach, so they do not confirm its presence at the time we are looking for it. They can be a sign of a past infection that is no longer present, so it is not worth treating them!

9- Are there any risks associated with this disease?

Ulcerative colitis is curable, but if neglected, ignored, self-medicated without consulting a doctor, it carries many risks and complications, which make treatment very difficult and can become a major and life-threatening cause.

This is the name given to cancer that originates in the walls of the colon. It arises mainly from the mucous layer of the colon and is called adenocarcinoma.

Who causes bowel cancer?

In over 90% of cases, the causes of this tumor are environmental factors such as a low-fiber diet, foods rich in fat, alcohol consumption, smoking, previous intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, polyps, etc.

What are some of the main symptoms of bowel cancer?

⁃ Intestinal disorder

⁃ Bloody stool or blood in stool with test

⁃ Diarrhea or constipation or feeling of incomplete emptying

⁃ Abdominal pain that starts and continues as such

⁃ Losing weight without understanding why!

At what age does colon cancer appear?

Colon cancer usually occurs after the fourth or fifth decade of life. Nowadays the relationship between cancer and age has changed. Colon cancer is also diagnosed quite frequently at a younger age. For this reason it is necessary to carefully evaluate the signs, medical visits and recommended tests.

Is colon cancer a hereditary disease?

In 5-10% of cases the disease is hereditary. Specific diseases such as Lynch syndrome or familial polyposis, etc., are known to play a direct role in the onset of colon cancer. Family history of carcinoma also plays an important role. People who have family members affected by malignant diseases should take this fact seriously.

How is colon cancer detected?

There are three basic tests to detect colon cancer.

-Stool analysis to check for blood.

- Sigmoidoscopy for the left side of the colon.

-Colonoscopy to check the entire colon.

All three of these tests are useful for detecting colon cancer at an early stage, when surgery is possible.

Can colon cancer be cured?

Currently, colon cancer is largely curable and often curable if localized only to the colon. In about 50% of cases, surgical treatment is chosen. In the remaining cases, surgery and other methods such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy act in combination. The methodology is chosen based on the stage of the disease.

Therefore, the outcome of treatment and recovery depends on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis.

How can we make sure we don't get colon cancer?

The above mentioned signs that could be related to colon cancer should not be underestimated. Only a consultation with a gastroenterologist is the way to proceed and be certain whether or not you have a colon disease.

For greater safety, colonoscopy is a safe test through which you can examine the colon completely and safely.

But if there are no symptoms, is a colonoscopy necessary?

YES. Colonoscopy is recommended even in the absence of clinical signs, related only to age! The world associations of gastroenterology recommend colonoscopy at the age of 45 for the entire population and five years earlier, at the age of 40, for people with a family history of cancer. This is due to the fact that in the early forms, colon cancer may not present clinical signs, but, on the other hand, in the early forms the treatment is curative and definitive.

Never neglect to inform yourself, follow and put into practice the doctors' recommendations, because for this disease the speed of an early diagnosis and a curative treatment also depends on you!!