Colorectal cancer has been increasing in India in recent years, especially among young people aged 31 to 40 years. Previously he was the 7th most common cancer, now he is the 4th most common cancer. The reason for this increased incidence is dietary changes, including increased intake of processed foods, red meat, and fatty foods, and decreased intake of fiber and micronutrients. A sedentary lifestyle and increased tobacco and alcohol use are also factors contributing to this increased incidence.
This means there is an urgent need to focus on colorectal cancer detection, as colorectal cancer is often curable if detected early in stages 1 and 2. Even at stage 3, proper removal of the cancer mass may lead to a cure. Treatment advances such as medical therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have significantly improved outcomes. Surgical technology, particularly robotic surgery, has advanced significantly to allow for precise tumor removal with fewer complications. Robotic surgery makes a huge difference for many patients in terms of preserving organs such as the sphincter, thereby maintaining incontinence and avoiding the need for a permanent stoma, which greatly impacts a patient's social life.
Preventive measures and certain lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. Increased physical activity, dietary changes such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking cessation are key factors. Evidence suggests that taking low-dose aspirin for 5 to 10 years may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence. The most important factors that increase the risk are smoking, eating red and processed meat, drinking a lot of alcohol, obesity, and low vitamin D levels. People who have polyps in the colon or a family history of inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, or colorectal cancer are also more likely than others to develop the disease.
Symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, increased frequency of bowel movements (4 to 5 bowel movements per day), feeling of residual urine after defecation, and anemia (low hemoglobin) should not be ignored. If you are over 40 and have boils (hemorrhoids) or anemia, you may have colorectal cancer and need further testing with a colonoscopy. Screening is recommended for people over age 50, and at least one colonoscopy can diagnose early cancer. People with a family history of cancer should have a colonoscopy 10 years before the age at which a family member was diagnosed.
Author: Dr. Rajshekhar C Jaka, Consultant – Oncological Surgery and Robotic Surgery, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Jayanagar and Malleshwaram
This means there is an urgent need to focus on colorectal cancer detection, as colorectal cancer is often curable if detected early in stages 1 and 2. Even at stage 3, proper removal of the cancer mass may lead to a cure. Treatment advances such as medical therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have significantly improved outcomes. Surgical technology, particularly robotic surgery, has advanced significantly to allow for precise tumor removal with fewer complications. Robotic surgery makes a huge difference for many patients in terms of preserving organs such as the sphincter, thereby maintaining incontinence and avoiding the need for a permanent stoma, which greatly impacts a patient's social life.
Preventive measures and certain lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. Increased physical activity, dietary changes such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and smoking cessation are key factors. Evidence suggests that taking low-dose aspirin for 5 to 10 years may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence. The most important factors that increase the risk are smoking, eating red and processed meat, drinking a lot of alcohol, obesity, and low vitamin D levels. People who have polyps in the colon or a family history of inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, or colorectal cancer are also more likely than others to develop the disease.
Symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, increased frequency of bowel movements (4 to 5 bowel movements per day), feeling of residual urine after defecation, and anemia (low hemoglobin) should not be ignored. If you are over 40 and have boils (hemorrhoids) or anemia, you may have colorectal cancer and need further testing with a colonoscopy. Screening is recommended for people over age 50, and at least one colonoscopy can diagnose early cancer. People with a family history of cancer should have a colonoscopy 10 years before the age at which a family member was diagnosed.
Author: Dr. Rajshekhar C Jaka, Consultant – Oncological Surgery and Robotic Surgery, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Jayanagar and Malleshwaram
