By Dr. Asit Arora
Simple Steps to Protect Your Gut Health
Colon cancer (or colorectal cancer) is one of the most common cancers, but here’s the good news: it is often beatable and even preventable if we catch it soon enough.
At our practice, our main message is simple: Don’t wait! Knowing the signs and getting screened on time are the best tools you have. If cancer is found, the modern surgery we use makes recovery much faster and easier.
🚩 Look Out for These Signs
In the very early stages, colon cancer might not cause any problems. But if you notice any of these lasting changes, it’s time to see a doctor:
- Changes in your toilet habits: Suddenly having diarrhea or constipation that won’t go away, or your poop looks different than usual.
- Seeing Blood: Finding blood in your stool or bleeding from your back passage. Even if you think it’s just piles (hemorrhoids), you must get it checked.
- Belly Pain: Frequent cramping, gas, or pain in your tummy that doesn’t go away.
- Losing Weight: Dropping weight when you haven’t been trying to.
- Feeling Tired All the Time: Feeling weak or exhausted because the cancer can cause slow blood loss (anemia).
🛡️ Your Shield: Why Screening Saves Lives
Most colon cancers start as little bumps called polyps, which are not cancer yet. Screening tests find and remove these polyps before they ever turn into a problem.
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| Screening Method | What It Is | Who Needs It? |
| Colonoscopy | A doctor uses a tiny camera on a flexible tube to look at your entire colon. It’s the best test because they can remove any polyps right then and there. | Everyone should start getting one around age 45 (or earlier if cancer runs in your family). |
| Stool Tests | These simple kits check your poop for tiny amounts of blood or abnormal cells. | These are easy to do yearly, but if the result is positive, you will still need a colonoscopy to check the colon. |
The bottom line: If you are over 45, talk to your doctor about screening, even if you feel perfectly fine.
🔪 Modern Treatment: Surgery That Helps You Heal
If colon cancer is found, surgery is usually the main treatment. Luckily, surgery has advanced dramatically!
Minimally Invasive Surgery (Keyhole Surgery)
We now use advanced techniques where we operate through small keyhole cuts instead of a single long incision. This approach uses special cameras and tools to remove the tumor cleanly and precisely.
Why this is better for you:
- Less Pain: Smaller cuts mean less pain after the operation.
- Shorter Hospital Stay: You can usually get back home to recover much quicker.
- Faster Recovery: You’ll feel strong enough to get back to your daily life—and start any follow-up treatments—sooner.
- Same Results: The most important thing is that these keyhole surgeries are just as effective at removing cancer as traditional surgery, when performed by an experienced surgeon.
You deserve the best chance at a quick and full recovery. By staying on top of your screening and choosing specialized surgical care, you are taking the strongest action possible against colon cancer.
If you have received a colon cancer diagnosis or want to learn about minimally invasive surgery options, please contact us to book a consultation with Dr. Asit Arora.
