{"id":2169,"date":"2021-08-31T02:29:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T18:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiamd.com\/?p=2169"},"modified":"2025-08-20T16:21:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:21:28","slug":"5-easily-ignored-symptoms-of-colorectal-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiamd.bqubetech.com\/vi\/2021\/08\/31\/5-easily-ignored-symptoms-of-colorectal-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"5 easily ignored symptoms of colorectal cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article has been verified medically<\/span> by Dr Denis Cheong<\/a>, colorectal surgery specialist of <\/em>Surgi-TEN Specialists at Farrer Park Hospital (Singapore).<\/em>
\nAbout the Doctor<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer symptoms. In Singapore, colorectal cancer is the number one cancer affecting men, and second only to breast cancer for women<\/a>. Thus, risk management, as well as early detection and treatment, is often advised for better outcomes.<\/p>\n

Although colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide<\/a>, incidences in Singapore have been steadily going up over the last three decades so that is now the most common type of cancer in Singapore.<\/p>\n

Follow us on WhatsApp for the latest updates: https:\/\/bit.ly\/AsiaMDWhatsAppEN\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Colorectal cancer screening, your best line of defence<\/h2>\n

Colorectal cancer can be tricky to catch as more than half of the people who get it may have no symptoms.<\/p>\n

Most colorectal cancer patients are older than 45 years of age, though patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps<\/a> may get it at a younger age. Factors like consumption of red meats; obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and excessive alcohol use are other contributing factors<\/a>. Unfortunately, lifestyle modification is not only difficult but has little impact on risk reduction.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately symptoms like a change in bowel habits, abdominal pain or fatigue often only manifest at a late stage. Thus, regular screening is recommended, especially if you have a family history<\/a> of colorectal cancer or polyps. Younger patients are not exempt as one in 10 colorectal cancer patients is under the age of 50.<\/p>\n

Routine screening<\/a> for individuals without risk factors is advised for those above 50 though individuals in the \u201cVery High Risk\u201d category with a family history may need to start screening while in their teens.<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer is easier to treat when found early, and screening allows removal of pre-cancerous polyps<\/a> so that cancer is prevented. Screening can be done by colonoscopy or faecal occult blood tests (FOBT), and have been linked to a 33 per cent reduction in colorectal cancer mortality. Alternative methods are sigmoidoscopy<\/a>, barium enema and CT colonography.<\/p>\n

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Screening helps to catch signs of colorectal cancer before the condition progresses. Image source: The Straits Times <\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

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Be on the lookout for these signs of colorectal cancer
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Between cancer screenings, it\u2019s important to watch for these symptoms that often go ignored:<\/p>\n