𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘶𝘮 2025 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳
Chennai, March 21, 2025: Apollo Hospital today organised Colon Cancer Symposium 2025 with a mission pledge to conduct programs and produce material by print and via social media to educate the public on the increasing incidence of this condition and to encourage screening as an effort to identify and treat this condition at the earliest.
As part of this Symposium, Dr. Shyam Varadarajulu, Senior Consultant, Apollo Hospital, Chennai, Dr. Mo Thoufeeq, Senior Consultant, GI Endoscopist, South Yorkshire Endoscopy Network Chair, DR. K R Palaniswamy, Senior Consultant and Head, Apollo Hospitals Chennai, Dr. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr P Basumani, Consultant, Apollo Hospital, Chennai. Dr Kartik, Consultant, Apollo Hospital, Chennai participated along with other doctors.
Cancer in all its forms is increasing wordwide. Colorectal (Bowel) cancer is cancer arising from large intestine. Depending upon the location in the large bowel it can be either colon cancer or rectal cancer – latter arising from the last end of the colon. Though India has lower incidence of this cancer compared to the Western and developed Asian countries, it is worrying that the cancer occurrence is definitely increasing in recent times . Usually it affects people aged 50 yrs or more. But our concern is that In India around one third of these cancers affect earlier at the age of 40-50 yrs . Men are affected more than women.
In India, 1 in 10000 people develop this cancer . Sadly 2 out of 3 persons diagnosed with this cancer die in the same year. This is because the cancer gets diagnosed late. Colon cancer develops in majority as small clumps of excess growing cells in the lining ( mucosa) of the large bowel. For a long time this may not cause any symptom at all. By the time it causes any symptoms, its likely that bowel cancer is already in advanced stage,
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer: Diarrhoea, Constipation, Change in caliber/shape of stools, Urgency to pass stools, Blood in stools, Tummy pain and bloating, Weight loss, Anemia and weakness
When caught early however colon cancer is curable by surgery and supportive treatment. Prevention is better than cure .
How to prevent colon cancer affecting us?
- Reduce risk factors:
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Regular physical exercise
- Stop smoking
- Avoid excess alcohol
- Reduce red meat consumption
- Avoid processed food
- Eat more vegetables and fruits
- Get ‘’ screened’’ for bowel cancer – when you have no symptom at all : If
- You have family member(s) with bowel cancer especially before age of 50.
- You have family members with breast, uterus , ovary cancer etc.
- You have long standing inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis
- You are on medications for some years after organ transplantation
- By increasing awareness of both public and health professionals we can diagnose bowel cancer early , cure them and make them live a long healthy life.
- Don’t’ be shy to discuss/ Don’t ignore bowel symptoms mentioned earlier!
- See your doctor especially if these bowel changes persist beyond 6 weeks
- If routine blood checks show anemia get medical opinion as to the cause of anemia
- Patients aged 50 or more have blood mixed in stools for 6 weeks or longer
- Patients aged 50 or more have loose, frequent stools for 6 weeks or longer
- Patients aged 40 or more have both loose stools and blood in stools for 6 weeks or longer
- Anemia in any man or any non-menstruating woman
- Lump in abdomen or rectum on physical examination
- Abnormal bowel imaging on Xrays or scans
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