Colorectal cancer does occur more frequently among people with high-calorie, high-fat diets that are low in important nutrients such as calcium, folic acid and fiber.

To reduce your risk, you may wish to adopt a low-fat diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed foods.

Though not all polyps become cancerous, most cases of colorectal cancer – the most common cancer in Singapore – begin with a benign polyp that wasn’t removed. So why should you take the chance?

It depends on (1) The number of family members who have it, (2) Whether they are first degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) or not, and (3) The age where they were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The higher the number of family members affected, the more who are first degree relatives, and the younger their age of diagnosis; the higher your risk.

It’s important to note that the main treatment for colorectal cancer is always surgery. Chemotherapy’s role is primarily to support the surgical treatment so as to reduce the chances of future recurrence.

Rest assured that in most cases, a stoma is not needed.

A permanent stoma is only needed when the cancer affects the anal muscles, which have to be removed during surgery; while a temporary stoma is usually only needed in rectal cancers where the cancer is very near the anus. A temporary diversion of stools will help the wound heal faster with lower risk of infection.