March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) and Roche held a press conference last February 26 to celebrate the colorectal cancer awareness month (CCAM). March has been designated as the colorectal cancer awareness month and this year’s theme is “Ignoring a Gut Feeling?” which centers on raising awareness that colorectal cancer is a preventable disease.

The press conference was held to encourage the public to help prevent colorectal cancer through raising screening and symptom awareness, especially on understanding the physical symptoms such as abdominal pain and changes in bowel movement, which in time becomes an intuitive “gut feeling” that allows early detection.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines. In 2005, there were 2,657 deaths due to colorectal cancer. Research has also shown that half of all colorectal cancer details could be prevented using screening, monitoring and treatment methods that are already available.

“Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. Colorectal cancer is a cancer that develops in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be referred to separately as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start,” said Dr. Gerry Cornelio, past president of PSMO.

“In most people, colorectal cancer develops slowly over a period of several years. Before a cancer develops, a growth of tissue or tumor usually begins as a non-cancerous polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Another kind of pre-cancerous condition is called dyslapsia, an area in the lining of the colon or rectum where the cells look abnormal (but not like true cancer cells) when viewed under a microscope. These cells can change into cancer over time.”

Dr. Cornelio further explained that “If cancer forms within a polyp, it can eventually begin to grow into the wall of the colon or rectum. When cancer cells are in the wall, they can then grow into blood vessels or lymph vessels. Once cancer cells spread into blood or lymph vessels, they can travel to distant parts of the body, such as the liver.”

Risk Factors

According to Dr. Cornelio, there are many researches that found several risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing colorectal cancer. “The risk factors that we cannot change include age (50 years old and older), personal history of colorectal cancer, inherited syndromes, and racial/ethnic background. There are several lifestyle-related factors that have been linked to colorectal cancer such as diet rich in red meats and processed meats, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and type-2 diabetes.”

Signs and Symptoms

While colorectal cancer is often found after symptoms appear, most people with early colon or rectal cancer have no symptoms of the disease. Symptoms usually appear only with more advanced disease. Dr. Cornelio shared that some of the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include a change in bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so; rectal bleeding, dark stools, or blood in the stool (often, though, the stool will look normal), cramping or abdominal (stomach area) pain; and, weakness and fatigue.

Treatment Options

“There are various types of treatments used for colon and rectal cancers. The main types of treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Depending on the stage of cancer, two or more of these options are combined at the same time or used after one another,” Dr. Cornelio concluded.