Marching for Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment

New Delhi : To emphasise the significance of spotting or preventing colorectal cancer early, March is internationally recognised as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In terms of prevalence and mortality, colorectal cancer ranks third overall. Although cancer screenings are readily available, they are often underutilized, which can delay the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

This article draws attention to the fact that high-income countries have better mortality and morbidity rates after cancer surgery than low- and middle-income countries do. It also clarifies the rising prevalence of colorectal cancer, particularly in Asia, which accounts for nearly half of the global burden of colorectal cancer.

Hereditary genetic cancer syndromes, chronic inflammation, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and excessive consumption of red meat are all highlighted in the article as potential causes of colorectal cancer. By making changes to one’s lifestyle, such as eating more fiber, eating less red meat, and engaging in regular physical activity, one can greatly reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain, bloating with gas, unintentional weight loss, shortness of breath, jaundice, extreme weight loss, and fatigue are all described in the article as symptoms of colorectal cancer. Early consultation after recognising these symptoms aids in prompt diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.

The importance of surgery in the potentially curative treatment of colorectal cancer is emphasised. Rectal cancers can now be surgically resected with a high degree of precision and accuracy thanks to developments in colorectal cancer surgeries like robotic surgery. This is especially true for men who have a narrow pelvis. It is possible to perform rectal surgeries that preserve continence without jeopardising the oncological safety of resecting colorectal cancer.

Complete clinical responses have been documented in studies of immunotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer who carry certain gene mutations, and these findings are also highlighted in the article. Colorectal cancer screening is crucial for early detection, and it can be performed using a number of different methods, such as those that look for blood in the stool or those that look for precancerous lesions in the bowel called adenomas.

In conclusion, despite recent improvements in the treatment of colorectal cancer, early detection and prevention remain essential to the disease’s successful management. The prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer can be facilitated by raising awareness of the disease’s risk factors, symptoms, and screening methods.

Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli is an esteemed robotic surgical oncologist with over 20 years of surgical experience. He currently is the Clinical Director, Surgical Oncology, Senior Consultant Robotic Surgical Oncologist at YASHODA Hospitals in Hitec City, Hyderabad. Dr. Sunkavalli did superspecialty training (M.Ch.) in surgical oncology at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmadabad where he ranked All India 2nd. He is the first qualified and trained robotic surgeon in Andhra Pradesh and is recognized as the best robotic surgical oncologist in Hyderabad. He was honored with a fellowship at the Long Beach Cancer Center in 2009 and completed a GI fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York in the same year. Dr. Sunkavalli is a university topper and gold medalist in his master’s in surgery and super specialization in surgical oncology.