Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as 'Bowel Cancer', 'Colon Cancer', or 'Rectal Cancer' , is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine).

According to recent data from the Globocon 2020 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were approximately 1,931,590 new cases of colorectal cancer worldwide in 2020, and approximately 9,35,173 people passed away from the illness. According to the report, Bangladesh experienced 2,753 new cases of colon cancer in 2020, of which 1,772 individuals passed away.

Many people with colorectal cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they'll likely vary, depending on the cancer's size and location in large intestine.
If somebody has symptoms, they may include—

* Blood in or on stool (bowel movement).
* Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way.
* Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away.
* Weight loss.

Risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as a person gets older, and there are other risk factors.
Other risk factors include having—

*Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
*A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.

Lifestyle factors that may contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer include—

* Lack of regular physical activity.
* A diet low in fruit and vegetables.
* A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats.
* Overweight and obesity.
* Alcohol consumption.
* Tobacco use.

Regular colorectal cancer screening tests starting at age 45 are the most effective method to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer.
The rules which can be followed to reduce the risk of this cancer are :

Diet:
Dietary changes are being studied to see if they can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. To reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, such as coronary artery disease and diabetes, medical experts frequently suggest a diet low in animal fats and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This diet may also lower the chance of colorectal cancer.

Healthy Choices:
Some studies indicate that increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Maintain a healthy weight:
Should Work to maintain weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If someone needs to lose weight, that person should ask doctor about healthy ways to achieve goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by increasing the amount of exercise and reducing the number of calories you eat.

Exercise most days of the week:
Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days.

Avoiding alcohol consumption and tobacco:
Heavy use of alcohol and smoking increases your risk of colon cancer. So if someone stays away from these, the chances of getting cancer will also decrease.

The secret to preventing and detecting colorectal cancer early is routine screening, which should start at age 45. Doctors suggests a number of methods for detecting colorectal cancer, including

* Flexible sigmoidoscopy:
For this test, the doctor puts a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum. The doctor checks for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and lower third of the colon.

* Colonoscopy:
This is similar to flexible sigmoidoscopy, except the doctor uses a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon.

* CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy):
Computed tomography (CT) colonography, also called a virtual colonoscopy, uses X-rays and computers to produce images of the entire colon, which are displayed on a computer screen for the doctor to analyze.

Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer. Screening tests can find polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment works best.
About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.