Apollo Hospital – Colon Cancer Symposium 2025

Cancer in all its forms is increasing wordwide. 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 our concern is that In India around one third of these cancers affect earlier at the age of 40-50 yrs . Men are affected more than women.

In India, 1 in 10000 people develop this cancer . Sadly 2 out of 3 persons diagnosed with this cancer die in the same year. This is because the cancer gets diagnosed late. 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 ( see table) its likely that bowel cancer is already in advanced stage,

Table1 : What are the symptoms of Bowel Cancer

Diarrhoea

Constipation

Change in caliber/shape of stools

Urgency to pass stools

Blood in stools

Tummy pain and bloating

Weight loss

Anemia and weakness

When caught early however colon cancer is curable by surgery and supportive treatment. Prevention is better than cure .

Table 2 : How to prevent colon cancer affecting us?

1) Reduce risk factors:

• Maintain ideal body weight

• Regular physical exercise

• Stop smoking

• Avoid excess alcohol

• Reduce red meat consumption

• Avoid processed food

• Eat more vegetables and fruits

2) Get ‘’ screened’’ for bowel cancer – when you have no symptom at all : If

• You have family member(s) with bowel cancer especially before age of 50.

• You have family members with breast, uterus ,ovary cancer etc.

• You have long standing inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis

• You are on medications for some years after organ transplantation

Bowel Cancer Screening :

Screening can be done by stool tests for hidden blood present, special CT scans and more effectively by direct internalexamination 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.

How to catch colon cancer early ?

By increasing awareness of both public and health professionals we can diagnose bowel cancer early , cure them and make them live a long healthy life.

• Don’t’ be shy to discuss/ Don’t ignore bowel symptoms mentioned earlier!

• See your doctor especially if these bowel changes persist beyond 6 weeks

• If routine blood checks show anemia get medical opinion as to the cause of anemia

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

• Abnormal bowel imaging on Xrays or scans

OUR MISSION : We pledge to conduct programs and produce material by print and via social media to educate the public on the increasing incidence of this condition and to encourage screening as an effort to identify and treat this condition at the earliest.