Friday, Mar 21 2025 | Time 22:29 Hrs(IST)
States » SouthPosted at: Mar 21 2025 6:17PM


Sympoisum on Colon cancer held

Chennai, Mar 21 (UNI) A symposium on colon cancer was held in the city on Friday and
it was organised by the Tamil Nadu Gastroenterologist Trust and Apollo Hospitals.
Cancer in all its forms is increasing worldwide. Colorectal (Bowel) cancer is cancer arising
from large intestine.
Depending upon the location in the large bowel it can be either colon cancer or rectal cancer
– latter arising from the last end of the colon.
Though India has lower incidence of this cancer compared to the Western and
developed Asian countries, it is worrying that the cancer occurrence is definitely
increasing in recent times.
Usually it affects people aged 50 yrs or more. But the concern is that In India around
one third of these cancers affect earlier at the age of 40-50 yrs as men are affected
more than women, Dr. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group,
told reporters.
In India, one in 10000 people develop this cancer. Sadly 2 out of 3 persons diagnosed
with this cancer die in the same year because it was diagnosed later.
Colon cancer develops in majority as small clumps of excess growing cells in the lining
(mucosa) of the large bowel.
For a long time this may not cause any symptom at all. By the time it causes any symptoms
its likely that bowel cancer is already in advanced stage.
Diarrhoea, Constipation, Change in caliber/shape of stools, urgency to pass stools, blood
in stools, tummy pain and bloating, weight loss, anemia and weakness are the symptoms
of Bowel Cancer, she said when caught early however colon cancer is curable by surgery
and supportive treatment.
Highlighting the fact that prevention is better than cure, she also spoke about the steps on
how to prevent colon cancer affecting the people.
They included reducing risk factors like maintaining ideal body weight; regular physical exercise;
giving up smoking, avoiding excess alcohol, reducing red meat consumption, avoiding processed
foods and eating more vegetables and fruits.
She suggested to get screened’ for bowel cancer even there was no symptom at all If you have
family member(s) with bowel cancer especially before age of 50; family members with breast,
uterus, ovary cancer etc.,; those having long standing inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative
colitis and those who are on medications for some years after organ transplantation.
She said bowel cancer screening could be done by stool tests for hidden blood present, special
CT scans and more effectively by direct internal examination of large bowel. Inside of colon can
be examined by sigmoidoscopy which looks at left side of colon where most cancers occur or
colonoscopy which can look at whole of colon.
At colonoscopy doctors can localise the cell clumps ( polyps) in bowel lining, remove them and
thus stop them from developing into bowel cancer.
By increasing awareness of both public and health professionals bowel cancer could be diagnosed
early, cure them and make them live a long healthy life.
Health care Professionals should consider referring to specialist if patients aged 50 or more have
blood mixed in stools for 6 weeks or longer, patients aged 50 or more have loose, frequent stools
for 6 weeks or longer, patients aged 40 or more have both loose stools and blood in stools for 6
weeks or longer, anemia in any man or any non-menstruating woman, lump in abdomen or rectum
on physical examination and abnormal bowel imaging on Xrays or scans.
UNI GV 1812
Tags: #Sympoisum on Colon cancer held
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