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What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer results from the abnormal growth of the cells of the colon and rectum. These cancer cells continue to grow and can spread to other parts of the body.
Colorectal cancer is a common cancer type in Hong Kong. It is the second commonest cancer in men in terms of number of new cases. The older you get, the higher is the chance of having this cancer, especially if you are older than 50.
What causes it?
The major risk factors of colorectal cancer include:
- Diet that is high in animal fat and low in fibre (fruit and vegetables)
- Low level of physical activity
- A family history of colorectal cancer or some hereditary colon disorder
- A long history of inflammation of the colon, called ulcerative colitis
- History of colon polyps
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What are the common symptoms?
Common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
- Blood (either bright red or very dark) or large amount of mucus in the stool
- A change of bowel habits such as loose stool or constipation
- Persistent urge after passing stool
- Abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps)
- Weight loss with no known reason
These symptoms may be caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer. It is important to check with a doctor.
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How can I prevent it?
What you eat is important. Certainly adopting a healthy lifestyle minimizes the risk of getting colorectal cancer. This means you have to eat lots of fruit, vegetables, grains and cereals, but not much meat and animal fat.
You should also keep active physically, have sensible drinking pattern, and quit smoking.
If you have family history of colorectal cancer, consult your doctor on this for the necessity of genetic or endoscopic screening.
What should I do if I have suspicious symptoms?
If you notice any symptoms as described above, you should consult a doctor immediately.
For suspected cases, the doctor may carry out some investigations. These include rectal examination, blood tests, stool tests, x-rays and procedures to obtain tissue samples for laboratory examination.
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| What is the treatment? |
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Treatment for colorectal cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy (use of anti-cancer drugs), or radiotherapy (use of x-rays to target and kill cancer cells), alone or in combination. The doctor will recommend the optimal treatment depending on the type of colorectal cancer, its size and location, along with the extent to which it affects the patient's life, and the presence of any other medical conditions.
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How can I help myself?
If you have a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, there are many things you can do to cope better and to improve your quality of life, including:
- Understand your illness and its treatment.
- Talk to someone (your partner, a friend or counselor) how you feel.
- Learn how to cooperate with the people involved with your care, including the health professionals, your family and friends.
- Take part in support groups to boost the ability to self-care and to obtain mutual support.
- Eat properly and have a diet as instructed by the dietitian.
- Exercise regularly under medical supervision.
- Avoid stress, learn relaxation techniques and do things that you can enjoy.
If you have any suspicions, you should seek medical advice.
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