Colorectal cancer is now the most commonly seen cancer among all gastrointestinal cancers.
Lifestyle-related factors are the main causes of colorectal cancer: Excessive consumption of red meat High intake of fatty, smoked foods (like tandoori, alfam) Tobacco use and alcohol consumption Lack of exercise Colorectal cancer can also be hereditary. People over the age of 50 are generally the most affected by this type of cancer.
The symptoms of colorectal cancer include: Blood in the stool. Mucus in the stool. The sensation of incomplete evacuation even after passing stool (tenesmus). These are the early symptoms of colorectal cancer. As the cancer progresses and spreads to other organs, it can cause complete blockage of the colon, resulting in severe pain, vomiting, and cessation of bowel movements. When the disease spreads to other organs, the symptoms will depend on which organ is affected. For example, if colorectal cancer spreads to the lungs, the patient might experience cough and shortness of breath.
To detect this disease early, a colonoscopy is performed, which allows a clear view of the colon. If a mass or lump is found, a biopsy is taken for further examination. This process helps diagnose the disease. If cancer is confirmed, staging must be done to understand the extent of its spread. MRI scans can help determine the local spread of colorectal cancer, and PET scans, a modern technology, can show if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body in a single scan. Since the symptoms of colorectal cancer are similar to those of hemorrhoids, many patients try various treatments initially. When these treatments fail to cure the ailment, they undergo proper testing. Consequently, colorectal cancer is often detected at stages three or four.
The main treatments for colorectal cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In the first stage, surgery alone can completely cure the disease. Effective surgery plays a crucial role in completely removing colorectal cancer. A modern surgical technique called Total Mesorectal Excision (TME), which removes the rectum and surrounding mesorectum, is used for this purpose. Post-surgery treatment depends on the pathology report, which looks for factors that might cause the cancer to recur. Subsequent treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy) are determined based on this pathology. If colorectal cancer has progressed to a stage where surgery is not possible, radiation and chemotherapy are used to shrink the tumor, enabling complete surgical removal later. Even at the beginning of the fourth stage, a combination of these three treatments can remove the disease. Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that can be completely removed if detected very early, but if diagnosed late, it can be life-threatening.
