Colon cancer develops in the large intestine, most often from polyps that grow slowly over years and can be removed during colonoscopy before they turn cancerous. Caught early, surgery offers a high chance of cure — which is why screening saves lives.
| Definition | Malignant tumour of the colon (large intestine) |
| Risk factors | Age 45+, polyps, family history, diet, inflammatory bowel disease |
| When to see a surgeon | Change in bowel habit, bleeding, anaemia, or a positive screen |
| Curative option | Surgical resection (often keyhole) ± chemotherapy |
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer arises in the large intestine and usually begins as a small growth called a polyp. Over years, some polyps slowly turn cancerous. This slow sequence is exactly why screening is so powerful: removing polyps prevents cancer from ever developing.
Symptoms & diagnosis
Common symptoms include a persistent change in bowel habit, blood in the stool, abdominal discomfort, unexplained anaemia or weight loss — though early cancer may cause no symptoms. Colonoscopy is the key test: it both diagnoses cancer (with biopsy) and removes pre-cancerous polyps, with CT used to stage the disease.
Treatment options
The mainstay of cure is surgical removal of the affected segment of colon along with its lymph nodes, increasingly performed by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery for faster recovery. Chemotherapy is added for more advanced disease. Outcomes are excellent when the cancer is caught early.
Screening prevents cancer
Because colon cancer develops from removable polyps, a screening colonoscopy from around age 45 — or earlier with a family history — can prevent the disease, not just detect it. This is one of the most effective cancer-prevention strategies in medicine.
How we treat Colon Cancer
Robotic Colorectal Surgery
Robotic surgery for colon and rectal cancer — superb access for total mesorectal excision in the narrow pelvis, with better nerve preservation (continence and sexual function) and sphincter-saving outcomes.
View treatment → Colon & Rectum Cancer
Curative surgery for colon and rectal cancer with sphincter-preserving and key-hole techniques wherever possible.
View treatment →Documented cases from our practice
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Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
Removing pre-cancerous polyps during a screening colonoscopy prevents most colon cancers, making screening from age 45 highly effective.
A lasting change in bowel habit, blood in the stool, unexplained anaemia, abdominal pain or weight loss should always be assessed.
Yes. Laparoscopic colon surgery is now standard in many cases, offering smaller scars, less pain and a quicker recovery with equal cancer outcomes.
Screening generally begins around age 45–50, or earlier if you have symptoms or a family history of colon cancer or polyps.
Early detection via colonoscopy improves outcomes significantly. Dr. Avinash Tank performs colon cancer surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic options, at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
कोलोनोस्कोपी से जल्दी पहचान होने पर इलाज के परिणाम काफी बेहतर होते हैं। लैप्रोस्कोपिक और रोबोटिक सर्जरी दोनों विकल्प उपलब्ध हैं।
Colonoscopy screening se early detection hoti hai, jisse treatment outcomes kaafi behtar hote hain.
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