Colorectal Cancer

Last updated on July 25th, 2022 at 12:45 pm

Are you 45 years of age or above?
It’s time to start your regular colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer/disease in which rectum or colon cells grow at an alarming/higher rate than it is supposed to.

This disease affects the rectum/colon of the digestive system.

As per the research conducted by GLOBOCAN in the year 2018, at least 10% of all cancer cases are from around the world.

And in Nepal, 5.8 per 100000 people develop and 4.8 per 100000 people die because of colorectal cancer every year. So, this article will provide you with some basic information about this horrible disease.

Is it communicable?

Colorectal cancer is not a transmittable disease. It is our body that develops it. 

People at most risk

• People fifty years or older have a higher risk or chance of developing colorectal cancer.
• A person with a history of colorectal cancer has a higher risk of developing it again in the future (Also Hereditary too).
• Dietary and Physical Reasons: People, who on a regular basis, consume a large amount of fat or food containing a large amount of fat have a higher chance of getting this disease. People who don’t exercise on a regular basis, and drink and smoke a lot have a high chance of developing colorectal cancer.
• Diabetic people are at a higher risk of developing this disease, etc.

In one study done by Prof. Dr. Umid Kumar Shrestha, in Nepal, among 415 lower gastrointestinal bleeding patients, the prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) was 6.5% (male 70.4%, female 29.6%) and the colorectal polyp was 18.3% (male 39.5%, female 60.5%).

Causes of Colorectal cancer

Doctors don’t know the exact reason why some people develop colorectal cancer but what is known is, that when healthy colon cells malfunction, grow, and multiply at a higher rate than normal rate, people develop colorectal cancer.

And when one cell starts to do that, it gets really ugly pretty fast.

Symptoms

People who are at an advanced stage of colorectal cancer may exhibit or feel any or all of the following symptoms.

• Regular/constant constipation/diarrhea, abdominal pain,
• Blood in stool,
• Constant discomfort in the bowel,
• Constant feeling of nausea/vomiting/fatigue/weakness,
• Undesired or unwanted loss in weight, etc.

When to See a Doctor for a checkup?

If you exhibit/show any and/or all of the symptoms given, you should go see a doctor immediately.

It is really important that people who feel any or all of the signs and symptoms given above, get treatment as early as possible.

Request an appointment with Senior Gastroenterologist at Clinic One Kathmandu >>>

Prevention Methods

To prevent this disease, you can take the following prevention methods:

• People who are at a higher risk of developing this disease should have regular tests as per their doctor’s prescription.
• Average people should get examined thoroughly at an age of 45 and after that as prescribed by your doctor.
• Healthy lifestyle: Be more active and consume healthy foods to minimize the chance of developing colorectal cancer. 
• Limit alcohol consumption and smoke, etc.

What are its available treatment?

There are many types of treatment available for different stages. Some of them are:

• For the beginning stage of colorectal cancer:
  Generally, treatment method for early stages includes: 
  • If polyps are small in size, they can be removed during a colonoscopy procedure.
  • Removing larger lumps of cancerous cells using special tools (endoscopic mucosal resection).
  • For those large lumps of infected and cancerous cells which cannot be removed or destroyed using colonoscopy, small invasive surgery is performed by the doctor.

• For the more advanced stage of colorectal cancer:
  Treatment method for the middle stages of colorectal cancer includes: 
  • Removing infected cancerous part of the colon/rectum along with a little bit of healthy colon cells/tissue (Partial Colectomy). After that, the surgeon/doctor rejoins them.
  • If joining them after the surgery is not possible, an ostomy (a secondary and artificial pathway that helps waste to leave your body) is necessary.
  • Sometimes, nearby lymph nodes are also removed and tested for any signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.

• For the most advanced stage:
  When and if infected cancerous cells spread to other parts of the human body, such as the lungs, liver, etc., your doctor may remove or block the colon if your health is poor and if not, surgery or localized treatment is performed by the doctor.

• Chemo, radiation, targeted drug, immunotherapy, and supportive care:
  These are used for destroying colorectal cancerous and infected cells using chemicals, radiation, drugs, etc.
  These treatments are done to reduce/decrease the size of the cancerous cells, after which can be removed with surgery.
  In most cases, they are used as a pain reliever for the patients.

 
Reference:
 https://journals.lww.com/ijsgh/fulltext/2020/11010/five_year_trend_of_colorectal_cancer_incidence_in.1.aspx#:~:text=According%20to%20GLOBOCAN%202018%2C%20CRC,in%20the%20year%2020184.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-is-colorectal-cancer.htm#:~:text=Colorectal%20cancer%20is%20a%20disease,large%20intestine%20or%20large%20bowel.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669
https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal
https://journals.lww.com/ajg/fulltext/2014/10002/prevalence_and_gender_difference_of.2042.aspx