Need for awareness on colorectal cancer stressed

Chennai: Apollo Hospitals announced the launch of its second International Colorectal Symposium 2018 on Thursday. The symposium will focus on recent advances in colorectal cancer and available treatments for colorectal diseases.

The Institute of Colorectal Surgery at the hospital collaborated with Cleveland clinic, USA and University College London, UK to conduct the symposium on March 24 and 25, 2018.

Stressing on the need of awareness on colon cancer and increased risk of lifestyle diseases, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Executive Chairman of Apollo Hospitals said, “Inherited gene mutations increases the risk of colon cancer but at a very small percentage of the population get affected by gene mutation. Young patients with colorectal cancers often come in late and have more aggressive forms of cancer.”

Approximately 10 per cent of cases are linked to insufficient physical activity. Lifestyle changes, fast-food habits among youngsters in the city and food with low fibre, high fat diets and high consumption of red meat have led to the increase in colon cancer," he added.

Colorectal and gastrointestinal surgeon Dr Venkatesh Munikrishnan said that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer across the world, accounting for nearly 6,94,000 deaths per year worldwide.

Out of 1.4 million new cases diagnosed every year, one in three cases of colorectal cancers are found to be localized in the rectum.

The International Colorectal Symposium is aimed to bring together healthcare professionals for exchanging innovative thoughts and development in the field of colorectal surgery and cancer.

It will host international surgeons and physicians from across the world, who are involved in the multidisciplinary management of colorectal diseases.