Colon Cancer — Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment in Lucknow
Colon cancer develops in the large intestine, often from a small growth called a polyp that turns malignant over years. The encouraging news is that, caught early, colon cancer is one of the most curable of all cancers — and surgery is the cornerstone of cure.
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma is a GI cancer and colorectal surgeon in Lucknow who treats colon cancer with precise, laparoscopic, protocol-driven surgery.
What is colon cancer?
The colon is the longest part of the large intestine. Colon cancer occurs when cells in its lining grow uncontrollably, usually beginning as a benign polyp that gradually becomes cancerous. Because this change is slow, screening and early removal of polyps can prevent cancer altogether.
When cancer is present, treatment depends on its stage — how deeply it has grown and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
Symptoms to watch for
- A persistent change in bowel habit — looser stools, constipation or both
- Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
- Abdominal pain, cramping or bloating
- Unexplained weight loss or persistent tiredness (often from anaemia)
- A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
Causes & risk factors
- Age over 50 (though younger cases are rising)
- A family history of colon cancer or polyps
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
- A diet high in red and processed meat and low in fibre
- Obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use and a sedentary lifestyle
How it is diagnosed
- Colonoscopy with biopsy — the key test to confirm the diagnosis
- CT scan of the abdomen, chest and pelvis to assess spread (staging)
- Blood tests including the CEA tumour marker
- MRI in selected cases
How colon cancer is treated
Surgery to remove the affected segment of colon along with its draining lymph nodes (colectomy) is the main curative treatment, and is increasingly performed laparoscopically. Depending on the final stage, chemotherapy may be added afterwards to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Dr Verma plans each case within a multidisciplinary tumour board, so your treatment combines surgery, chemotherapy and surveillance in the right sequence.
As an experienced colon cancer surgeon in Lucknow, Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma performs laparoscopic colectomy with meticulous lymph-node clearance at Medanta.
When to see a GI surgeon
- Any rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- A change in bowel habit lasting more than two to three weeks
- Unexplained weight loss, tiredness or abdominal pain
- A strong family history of bowel cancer — discuss screening
Colon Cancer: common questions
Is colon cancer curable?
Yes, especially when found early. Stage I and II colon cancers have high cure rates with surgery alone, and even more advanced cancers are often curable with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Early diagnosis makes the biggest difference.
Does blood in the stool always mean cancer?
No — piles and fissures are far more common causes. But rectal bleeding should never be ignored or assumed to be piles, because it can be the first sign of colon or rectal cancer. Always get it assessed.
Concerned about colon cancer?
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma offers clear assessment and expert treatment. Book a consultation for personalised advice.