FAQs

The number one food component to limit to reduce colon cancer risk is processed meats (like sausage, bacon, and hot dogs), as high intake of these and red meat is strongly linked to an increased risk

Colorectal cancer cells are killed by various treatments, including surgery (removing the tumour), chemotherapy (chemical agents), radiation therapy (high-energy beams), and targeted therapies (drugs that exploit specific weaknesses in the cancer cells)

Chemotherapy is stopped when a patient completes the planned treatment cycles, if the cancer progresses despite treatment, or if the side effects become unmanageable and outweigh the benefits. The decision is highly personalized and made in consultation with the oncology team.

For early-stage (I-III) colorectal cancer, the first line of treatment is typically surgery to remove the tumour and surrounding lymph nodes, sometimes followed by chemotherapy for higher-risk cases. For rectal cancer, sometimes chemotherapy and radiotherapy is given prior to surgery ( neoadjuvant therapy)

The primary way to stop colon cancer from spreading (metastasizing) is through curative-intent treatment, which involves surgical removal of the tumour often followed by chemotherapy to eliminate microscopic cancer cells.

The latest treatments often involve precision medicine, using targeted therapies and for tumours with specific genetic markers.  Advances in minimally invasive surgery, like laparoscopic and robotic surgery, are also continually improving recovery and patient outcomes.

   There is no single “miracle” treatment for colon cancer; instead, a personalized approach combining    surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy offers the best cure for colon cancer

No. Colorectal cancers are only categorised according to the TNM classification of 4 stages. These stages depend on the size of the tumour and any other nearby organs involved, the presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes or whether the tumour has spread to other distant organs.

No food can help prevent colon cancer but there are foods that can help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. These include food with a high fibre content and dairy products.

The 3-2-1 rule refers to the Amsterdam II criteria for identifying families with a high risk of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome. The rule is a mnemonic for the three criteria that must all be met: three or more relatives with Lynch syndrome-related cancers (like colorectal or endometrial), two successive generations with