All you need to know about Colorectal cancer

The incidence rates of large intestine cancer (colorectal cancer — CRC) in all the Indian cancer registries is close to the lowest in the world. But recent studies show a rising trend in the incidence of CRC in India. Risk factors for CRC can be broadly divided into genetic and lifestyle-related factors. The genes cause about 6% of all CRC and the lifestyle risk factors are high-fat diet, fibre deficient diet, junk foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and genetic factors. You can reduce your risk by making changes in your lifestyle. Symptoms of colorectal cancer include a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation, blood in the stools, dark stools, etc. Colonoscopy, stool occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy CT colonography are various screening modalities that can be used for early detection of cancer or polyp after the age of 50 and can be done up to the age of 75. If cancer is diagnosed, various treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are available. Newer targeted therapy and immunotherapy in selected patients will help in achieving the treatment goals. Disclaimer: The veracity of any health claim made in the above article is the responsibility of the concerned hospital/doctor.

SYMPTOMS OF COLORECTAL CANCER ARE CHANGE IN BOWEL HABITS, SUCH AS DIARRHOEA, CONSTIPATION, BLOOD IN THE STOOLS, DARK STOOLS.

PHOTOS: HTCS The author of this article is Dr Deepak Shukla, consultant, Medical Oncologist, Manipal Hospital, Jaipur