Colorectal Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors & Prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer of the colon or rectum, which are parts of the large intestine.

It is the 4th most common cancer in men &

5th most common cancer in women in India.*

(*IARC Global Cancer Observatory Data 2020)

Symptoms of colorectal cancer:

Colorectal cancer often develops without symptoms.

When they occur, symptoms may include:

Most cases of colorectal cancer occur in people ages 45 years and older, but the disease is increasingly affecting younger people.

Risk factors of colorectal cancer:

While anyone can develop colorectal cancer, a few conditions can increase risk such as:

Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)
Poor lifestyle, dietary habits, obesity, and lack of physical activity.

Prevention of colorectal cancer:

There are some things you can do to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, for instance:

Stop smoking
Limit alcohol intake
Eat a healthy diet – rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and low in red meat and processed meats
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy body weight

Remember, ANYBODY CAN GET COLORECTAL CANCER!

Screening is the No. 1 way to prevent or detect this disease early when it's most treatable.

How to screen for colorectal cancer?

There are 2 major screening tests for colorectal cancer: