Dr. Yosif Novakov is a famous Ruse physician. He was born on November 11, 1959. He graduated from the Mathematical High School in the city of Ruse, and then medicine at the VMI – Pleven. He has specializations in internal medicine and endoscopy at the Medical Academy – Sofia. He currently works in the Cabinet for Lower and Upper Endoscopy at the Complex Oncology Center in Ruse. The material is provided by the health facility.
“Colorectal carcinoma is an important public health problem due to its high incidence. It ranks second in absolute number of neoplastic diseases after breast carcinoma in women and first in men.”
This was stated by Dr. Yosif Novakov, who is a resident physician at the Complex Oncology Center in Ruse. According to him, regular prophylaxis of patients over 50 years of age is not recommended, but mandatory.
In the European Community, newly registered cases number 195,000 per year. In recent years, 252.2/100,000 were registered in Bulgaria, of which 49.1/100,000 were newly discovered carcinomas.
538 are the established cases in the Ruse oncology clinic for the period 2022-2023. The statistics are based on all areas that the medical facility covers in the region.
These data are further evidence of the importance and social damage that society suffers from this disease. Cancer of the rectum is more common in men, and the incidence of colon cancer is almost equal in men and women. Approximately 10% is hereditary, and in the remaining 90% it develops without a family predisposition – it usually arises on the basis of polyps.
Experience shows that the most affected groups are the following:
– Patients over 50 years of age;
– Members of families with colorectal carcinoma;
– People with long-term chronic inflammatory bowel diseases;
Certainly regular prophylaxis would ensure timely intervention and treatment. However, diagnostic standards such as:
– Screening of patients from risk groups; It should be noted here that screening colonoscopy is recommended for persons over 50 years of age with low risk, and for those with high risk – it should be performed after the age of 40;
– General and specifically directed anamnesis, physical examination;
– Faecal testing for occult bleeding, which in itself is a relatively cheap and easy-to-perform method;
“Colon cancer should always be suspected in people over 50 years of age and unmotivated intestinal complaints, anemia, change in the rhythm of defecation,” explains Dr. Novakov.
Categorically, the complex evaluation and the decision on the correct treatment is made after performing laboratory and imaging studies. Of utmost importance is the stage of colonoscopy performed in a medical institution with proven traditions. Endoscopic examination is a highly specialized method for proving colon cancer and confirming the diagnosis through biopsies and histological verification, as well as for monitoring the effect of treatment of an already proven disease. “Patients should be calm because it is carried out by a well-trained team, tailored to the individual needs of the patient. This allows the risk of endoscopy to be reduced to a minimum,” said Dr. Novakov categorically.
