Frequently Asked Questions

1. What doctors and specialists can treat colorectal cancer?

A team of surgical oncologist, gastroenterologist, practologists (colorectal surgeons) can treat colorectal cancer

2. What is a polyp?

Polyps are mushroom-like growths that form when cells lining the colon grow, divide and reproduce in an unhealthy, disorderly way. They can become cancerous over time, and invade the colon wall and surrounding blood vessels.

3. My doctor removed an adenoma during a colonoscopy procedure I had. What is an adenoma?

While an adenoma is a benign polyp or a non-cancerous growth in the lining of the large intestine, they are considered to be precursors of colon and rectal cancer.

4. Should I be afraid if I find a little bit of blood in my stool. Could I have colorectal cancer?

A number of different conditions can cause blood to appear in your stool. It is still best to get it checked by the doctor as bleeding is one of the earliest signs of colorectal cancer.

5. How long does a colonoscopy procedure take?

The procedure typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. When complete, your nurse will take you into a recovery area, where the sedation quickly wears off.

6. Are there any drugs available that can help prevent colorectal cancer?

Chemoprevention or the use of drugs to prevent cancer from developing in the first place is being researched and anti-inflammatory drugs that helped keep intestinal tumors from forming have been found, albeit with some side effects.

Published on Mar 10, 2016
Last Updated on Mar 24, 2018