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Colorectal cancer is a disease that begins in the colon or rectum. The colon is responsible for absorbing water and salts from the food that we eat and turns indigestible food into waste. The rectum is the part of the large intestine that connects the colon to the anus and stores food waste of the body. Colorectal cancer occurs when cells of the colon or rectum develop genetic mutations that cause cells to grow uncontrollably and form malignant tumours. 

Most colorectal cancers begin as polyps, which are benign growths on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps may be small and generally do not cause any symptoms. Over time, some of these polyps can change and become cancerous. 

Cancer cells from the inner lining can grow deep into the wall of the colon or rectum and may extend into the surrounding fatty tissue and organs. Colorectal cancer can also spread to nearby lymph nodes. In some cases, cancer cells spread through blood vessels to other parts of the body such as the liver and lungs. 

Colorectal Cancer - Prevalence 

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Singapore, affecting 36 out of 100,000 people¹. It is the second most common type of cancer for men and women after prostate cancer and breast cancer, respectively. Between 2018-2022, 12,704 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in Singapore. 

Colorectal cancer is commonly diagnosed in people aged 50 years and above though a rising incidence amongst younger individuals under the age of 50 has been noted globally. 

Younger individuals who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer may have hereditary conditions including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. Commonly, younger onset colorectal cancers may also be sporadic (non-hereditary) with multiple environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to its development. 

Regular screening tests are recommended to help prevent colorectal cancer by identifying and removing polyps before they turn cancerous.