Cancer of the large intestine, called colorectal cancer, is on the rise in India and although there has been a decline in the death rate, experts stress early screening, especially of those aged 45 and above, and a healthy lifestyle to prevent fatalities. 

Colorectal cancer is an umbrella term for colon, anus or rectum cancer.  According to experts, while it is common to think that having a family history makes it difficult for one to keep cancer at bay, the disease is quite often lifestyle driven and even in hereditary cases, prevention and early diagnosis can improve outcomes.

"Cancer is caused by multiple factors. Genes do play a role, but only 1-2 per cent of cases are genetic. The rest are lifestyle driven. It takes just a faulty inner or outer environment to switch the bad genes on," Dr Vivek Mangla, a Gastro-intestinal, Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary and Colorectal surgeon, said. 

 "As the saying goes prevention is better than cure, it is advisable that people seek preventive screening for colorectal cancer. Any person aged above 45 years should go for it," he added, more so if there is a family history of cancer.

According to doctors, one of the common symptoms of polyps as well as colorectal cancer is a change in the person's toilet frequency.