It's colorectal cancer awareness month
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) and Roche recently held a press conference to mark colorectal cancer awareness month (CCAM). This year’s theme is “Ignoring a Gut Feeling?” which centers on raising awareness that colorectal cancer is a preventable disease.
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 deaths 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 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,” says Dr. Gerry Cornelio, past president of PSMO.
Dr. Cornelio further explains, “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.”
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 polyps or colorectal cancer, history of inflammatory bowel disease, family 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 a diet rich in red meats and processed meats, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and type-2 diabetes.”
Dr. Cornelio shares that some of the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days; a feeling that you need to have a 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.
“Colorectal cancer is a devastating disease that affects thousands of Filipinos each year,” notes Dr. Jhade Peneyra, vice president of PSMO. “We need to highlight the importance of knowing the risk factors and symptoms, so that we can avoid the risk of developing the disease. It is also important that we push screening where early detection can prevent cancer from developing and even cure the disease.”
