What is Colorectal Cancer?
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is the one of the most common cancer to affect both women and men. Colorectal cancer begins to grow in the colon or the rectum, which are part of the large intestine and the body’s digestive system.
Most colorectal cancers start off as a polyp (growth) on the inner wall of the colon or rectum and may become cancer over time if not removed.
Symptoms
The early stage of colorectal cancer is often asymptomatic, but as the cancer grows and develops, common symptoms include:
- Diarrhea or constipation;
- Changes in stool consistency;
- Narrow stools;
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool;
- Pain, cramps and gas;
- Pain during bowel movement;
- The urge to pass stool frequently;
- Weakness and fatigue;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS);
- Iron deficiency (anemia)
If you are worried, wish to meet with a specialist or want to schedule a health check-up, please don’t hesitate to contact us or make an appointment . At Khema International Polyclinic, we currently have on offer health screening packages that include colorectal health screening. We look forward to welcoming you at Khema International Polyclinic!
Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a complete physical exam, including blood works, in addition to carefully take your and your family’s medical history. You doctor will also request a colonoscopy, where a long, flexible tube with a small camera on the end is inserted into the rectum to view the inside of the colon. A barium enema x-ray (lower gastrointestinal tract x-ray) may also be performed.
If cancer is detected, your doctor will request further exams to ensure the cancer hasn’t spread to other organs and, after, discuss treatment options.
Treatment
Treatment options available to you will depend on your age, other illnesses you may have, likely and likelihood of treatment success.
Prevention
Going for regular annual screenings for women and men who are over 50 years old, or earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer, is recommended. Regular screenings do not only detect early cancer and increases successful treatment, but can actually prevent colorectal cancer by detecting and removing polyps.
Keeping healthy, regular physical exercise, a diet low in saturated fat and high in vegetable and fruit may help to keep colon cancer away. Limiting alcohol consumption and no tobacco use is also recommended.