Facts and figures about Colorectal Cancer as shared by The Medical City

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and during this month, a lot of initiatives to prevent colorectal cancer and to give people more knowledge about the disease are being conducted.

In the Philipines, The Colorectal Clinic and the Cancer Institute of The Medical City is one of those institutions which started the celebration as early as on the first day of March. Aiming to be at the forefront in the Filipinos’ fight against colorectal cancer, they are organizing activities in March to promote awareness among their physicians and patients.

In connection with this advocacy, they held a symposium titled "Colorectal Cancer Screening and Management: What, Why, and How" on March 2, 2018 at the Augusto Barcelon Auditorium of The Medical City in Mandaluyong. The symposium which was themed :"Colon Cancer: Preventable, Treatable, Beatable" gave insights about the latest in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer.


Here are few facts about Colorectal Cancer :

Colorectal cancer is the number one gastrointestinal cancer in the Philippines, overtaking liver cancer; the third most common cancer in the country, and the thrid most common in the world.

Just like every cancer, colorectal also starts with a polyp. If the malignant tumor or tumors grow anywhere from the colon to the rectum, then it is called colorectal cancer.

How to find out and assess if you are at risk?

1. Age
Are you 50 years old or older?
Those 50 and up have a higher risk of getting CRC, but even those under 50 can have it so an early screening is reccommended, especially for those with other risk factors.

2. Family History
Has anyone in your family had colorectal cancer?
If you have a family history of CRC, you are advised to get screened for early detection and prevention.

3. Smoking and/or alcohol
Are you a long-term smoker?
Do you consume more than 2 alcoholic beverages er day?
Excessive smoking and alcohol can destroy the gastrointestinal tract and lead to CRC.

4. Obesity
Are you overweight or obese?
If your body mass index is over and beyond your age, you are at risk.

Other risk factors include :

- history of inflammatory bowel disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool
- Changing stool patterns
- Anemia and apetite loss

Like any other cancer, early detection which is done through proper screening is the key to prevent the disease from spreading.

For more details you may call the Colorectal Clinic at (632) 988-1000 / 988-7000 local 7789 or visit The Medical City in Ortigas Ave., Pasig City.

Visit their Facebook https://web.facebook.com/TheMedicalCity/ for updates and their webiste http://www.themedicalcity.com/ for more info.