This March, we recognize the importance of raising awareness for colon cancer. It is a time to educate, support, and advocate for patients, caregivers, and the community on a common disease affecting many Canadians. Dr. Roochi Arora is a Medical Oncologist who has been at Humber River Health since May 2021. As an oncologist, Dr. Arora has learned and familiarized herself with the symptoms of colon cancer and the treatments available, which she has shared in honour of the month.

Tell us about your role.
As a Medical Oncologist, my job is to assess and treat patients with cancer. I use a variety of treatments including pills and intravenous treatments. At times, I will also use chemotherapy and even newer treatments to treat my patients.

What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a cancer that begins in the large bowel, or colon. It is very common and affects, on average, 1 in 15 Canadians. It is most common in patients age 50 and above, but certainly can occur in younger age groups.

What are the early signs and symptoms of colon cancer?
Many patients with the early stages of colon cancer have no signs and symptoms. However, things to watch out for would be a change in bowel habits, – new constipation, new diarrhea, pencil-thin stools, etc. In addition, blood in the stool, weight loss, and anemia- low hemoglobin on blood tests.

What treatments are available to patients with colon cancer?
The treatments for colon cancer primarily depend on the stage. Early stage colon cancer is fortunately curable with surgery, and we sometimes offer chemotherapy afterwards to help prevent the cancer from coming back. If the cancer has spread, resulting in stage 4, there are still many treatment options to help control the cancer for as long as possible. These treatments usually include chemotherapy, antibody therapy, and at times, pill treatments.

Why do you believe colon cancer awareness month is important?
Colon cancer awareness month is significant because colon cancer is extremely common and may not cause patients any symptoms until it is at a later stage. It is important to know about screening for colon cancer with colonoscopies or the FIT and FOBT “poop tests,” which are stool samples that look for certain markers of colon cancer.

Can you provide tips on how to maintain a healthy colon?
You can lower your risk of colon cancer through:
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding smoking
• Eating adequate fibre in your diet
• Getting regular colonoscopies at your doctor’s discretion, especially if you have a high risk condition, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or a family history of colon cancer