Renowned Japanese Author Dies of Colorectal Cancer: How Long Does It Take from Polyp to Cancer? The Answer Is Startling

Recently, news came as a great shock: the celebrated Japanese author Keigo Higashino passed away from colorectal cancer at the age of 68. From winning the Edogawa Rampo Prize with _After School_ to sweeping the Naoki Prize and the Honkaku Mystery Grand Prize with _The Devotion of Suspect X_, and then touching countless readers with _Miracles of the Namiya General Store_ and _Journey Under the Midnight Sun_, he published over a hundred novels in his lifetime and was one of Japan’s most influential best-selling contemporary authors.

What are the early warning signs of bowel cancer? How long does it take for a polyp to become cancerous? Which groups of people must undergo immediate gastroenteroscopy screening? How can we prevent it? Today, let’s talk about these topics.

How long does it actually take from polyp to bowel cancer? Many people think bowel cancer is a misfortune that “strikes out of nowhere,” but in fact, the vast majority of colorectal cancers do not form overnight. Most bowel cancers develop step by step from intestinal adenomatous polyps, and the entire process usually takes 5 to 15 years, with an average of about 10 years. For most people, 8 to 10 years is the most critical window for intervention.

Newly formed intestinal polyps are mostly benign lesions and hardly cause any discomfort, so they are very easy to overlook. However, if left unchecked, under continuous stimulation from chronic inflammation, poor diet, and other factors, some polyps will gradually develop dysplasia and eventually become malignant tumors.

This 8‑ to 10‑year period is our “lifesaving window”: during the polyp stage or even early canceration, a colonoscopy can detect the lesion, and the polyp can be removed directly under endoscopy, completely blocking the cancer pathway and nipping the cancer in the bud.

In other words, bowel cancer is not unpreventable; it gives us nearly a decade to find it and stop it. The problem is that most people simply do not take the initiative to do one thing — undergo a colonoscopy.

Early detection of tumors: watch for these 4 “warning signals” Early‑stage bowel cancer often has no obvious symptoms. To achieve “early diagnosis and early treatment,” we need to pay close attention to these details:

Blood in the stool – starts as “occult bleeding” (positive fecal occult blood test) and gradually progresses to visible blood in the stool. This is the most core early sign of bowel cancer. - Unexplained weight loss – if you lose more than 5 kg without deliberately dieting in a short period, be alert to the possibility of intestinal tumor consumption. - Sudden change in bowel habits – especially in the elderly, for example, from having a bowel movement once a day for many years to suddenly several times a day or once every few days, lasting more than 2 weeks, accompanied by tenesmus and a feeling of incomplete evacuation. - Pay attention to precancerous lesions – intestinal polyps and inflammatory bowel disease, if not treated in time, may develop into bowel cancer sooner or later; active intervention plus regular follow‑up can effectively block canceration. - Change in stool shape – thinning of the stool, mucopurulent bloody stools, or bleeding after prolonged bowel movements.

These groups need colonoscopy screening without delay

1.People with a family history of colorectal cancer or intestinal polyps.

2.Middle‑aged and elderly people over 40.

3.Those who are sedentary, obese, or have a long history of smoking and alcohol consumption.

4.People with chronic intestinal inflammation (ulcerative colitis) or a history of intestinal polyps.

5.People with a long‑term high‑fat diet, preference for red meat/processed meat, or low‑fiber diet.

Special reminder: Colonoscopy can not only detect colorectal lesions in time, but also achieve complete endoscopic removal of colorectal polyps and early cancers. One high‑quality colonoscopy can ensure the safety of your intestines for 5‑10 years.

Colonoscopy screening: age 45 is the “golden starting age”

General population: After age 45, regardless of whether you have symptoms, it is recommended to complete your first colonoscopy. If you fear pain, you can choose painless colonoscopy; the whole process takes about 10 minutes and is quite comfortable. - Alternative approach: If you cannot undergo colonoscopy for the time being, you can do a fecal occult blood test once a year as a supplementary means of early screening. - Special circumstances: For those with a family history of colorectal cancer, long‑term diarrhea or constipation, or a previous history of intestinal polyps, the screening age should be advanced to 40 or even earlier. - Key reminder: No matter how busy life is, do not “delay” your health. Intestinal diseases often develop silently. Proactive screening is the most effective way to fight bowel cancer. If you experience any discomfort, do not tough it out — seek medical attention promptly.

Final reminder: your body — only you know it best The passing of this author is regrettable, but what deserves even deeper reflection is that the same risks are actually hidden in our daily lives.

Bowel cancer is never a sudden disaster; it gives us a full 8‑10 years to detect and block it. Some people seize the window and brush past cancer; others ignore the signals, and when symptoms finally appear, the disease is often already at an advanced stage.

Preventing problems before they start and taking the initiative are always the best ways to deal with bowel cancer. In daily life, eat less oil, salt, and sugar; get up and move more; reduce late nights; quit smoking and alcohol. When you reach the right age, do not be afraid or procrastinate — go for a colonoscopy.

Do not let seemingly trivial bad habits turn into irreparable regrets. Please also forward this article to your family and friends around you, reminding them: be sure to