Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is cancer arising in the colon or rectum, commonly developing through gradual changes within a pre-existing polyp.
Key takeaways
- Persistent blood in stool, altered bowel habit, iron-deficiency anaemia or unexplained weight loss needs evaluation, although these signs have other causes.
- Colonoscopy with biopsy confirms disease; imaging then establishes local and distant extent.
- Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted or immune therapy have stage- and site-specific roles.
The listings below are not a treatment plan; oncology selection depends on pathology, molecular markers, stage and fitness.
From symptoms to staging
Colonoscopy visualises the bowel and permits tissue diagnosis. CT and, for rectal cancer, pelvic MRI help plan treatment. Mismatch-repair or microsatellite-instability testing and other molecular analyses can affect hereditary evaluation and systemic options.
Treatment decisions
Surgery can be curative for many localised cancers. Rectal tumours may receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery, while advanced disease relies more on systemic treatment and symptom control. Bowel obstruction, nutrition, stoma planning and treatment adverse effects require coordinated support.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for severe abdominal pain with swelling and inability to pass stool or gas, repeated vomiting, heavy rectal bleeding, fainting or fever during systemic treatment.