Colorectal Cancer - What you should know

COLORECTAL CANCER is the second most common cancer in both men and women. It occurs one in 20 persons in his or her lifetime. Fortunately, it is one of the most preventable cancers if regular screening is done.

What is Colorectal Cancer?
It is colon cancer and rectal cancer, together they are known as colorectal cancer. Colon and rectal cancers begin in the digestive system, also called the GI (gastrointestinal) system. Gastrointestinal system is where food is processed to create replenishment for our body and rid the body of solid waste matter called stool.

Colorectal cancers develop over a period of several years. These colon cancer or rectal cancer begins as a polyp (a growth of tissue that starts in the lining and grows in the colon or rectum). Early surgical removable of the polyp may prevent it from becoming colorectal cancer.

Who is at risk of Colorectal Cancer?
The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. People with high risks of colorectal cancer includes those with :
1. Aged above 50 years. More than 85% of colorectal cancers occurred above 50 years.
2. A strong family history of bowel cancer or related colorectal cancer. Those with a family history of polyps or colorectal cancer face a higher risk with the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer at an earlier age.
3. Person with previous history of adenomas or cancer of the large bowel.
4. Person with history of chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

What are the early signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?
1. Blood found in the stools.2. Unexplained loss of weight.
3. No obvious reason in change of normal bowel habit - looser stools, hard stools etc.

4. Present of abdominal colic.

5. A desire going to toilet although just had a bowel motion.

When should screening be done?
1. For average-risk men and women who have none of the above-mentioned risk factors, screening should begin at the age of 40 to 45.
2. For men and women in the high-risk group, colonoscopy screening should be done every 5 years.
3. For family history of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy screening should begin at about the age of 40, or 10 years younger than the age of the youngest affected family member at the time of diagnosis, whichever is earlier.
4. For women who have a history of cancer of the breast, womb or ovary. If polyps are found and removed, colonoscopy should be repeated every 1 to 3 years. If the colonoscopy results are normal, it should be repeated every 3 to 5 years.

What are the methods of screening for colorectal cancer?
1. Test of blood in the stool (Annually)
2. Barium enema (x-ray examination of colon and return with a barium meal) (Every 5-10 years)
3. Colonoscopy (examination of the large intestine with a colonoscope) (Every 10 years)

What sort of tests the doctor do on me?
1. A detailed account of your medical problems as well as making you relate your past and family history.
2. A physical examination that include a rectal examination and a proctoscopy.
3. A faecal occult blood test and a blood test.
4. A colonoscopy or a barium enema test.
5. If cancer is already confirmed then liver ultrasound or CAT scan may be needed.