The steady rise of colorectal cancer in India is increasingly being linked to shifts in urban lifestyle patterns. Sedentary routines, processed food consumption, tobacco use and irregular daily habits are converging into a significant public health concern, one that often progresses silently until advanced stages. Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum, the terminal sections of the digestive system, typically presents early symptoms such as bleeding bowels, irregular metabolism and persistent acidity.
However, these warning signs are frequently overlooked or self-managed without clinical consultation. In an effort to assess public awareness and behavioral responses to these symptoms, Merck Specialities Pvt Ltd conducted a pan-India survey across metropolitan centers including Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Jaipur. The study evaluated awareness levels regarding the seriousness of colorectal cancer, recognition of early symptoms, the urgency of medical consultation and lifestyle-related risk factors. The survey was administered through digital healthcare platforms, email campaigns and WhatsApp broadcast networks, capturing responses across a broad urban demographic. The findings indicate a critical gap between symptom onset and medical response.
More than 80 per cent of respondents reported resorting to self-medication for indigestion and constipation, expecting spontaneous resolution. Over 65 per cent experienced disturbed bowel habits, commonly associated with packaged food consumption, tobacco use and lack of physical activity. Notably, more than 80 per cent of respondents were unaware that blood in the stool can be an indicator of a malignant colon. Among the surveyed cities, Kolkata recorded the lowest awareness levels. Only 9.3 per cent of respondents identified bleeding bowel as a serious clinical sign, while 91.9 per cent reported delaying medical consultation despite observing irregularities in bowel patterns.
These findings were presented at a conference held on 17 March at the Press Club of Kolkata, organised as part of the national awareness initiative during Colon Cancer Awareness Month. The event featured oncologists including Dr Poulami Basu, Consultant Medical and Hemato-Oncologist at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Centre and Research Institute; Dr Sudeep Das, HOD and Consultant Medical and Hemato-Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Kolkata; and Dr Sanchayan Mandal, Consultant Medical and Hemato-Oncologist at HCG Cancer Hospital, Kolkata.
An audit report based on a national survey across 14 Indian cities, covering more than 10,000 participants, was also released at the conference. The report underscores that colorectal cancer ranks among the top five malignancies in India in terms of mortality. Despite this, it remains one of the most preventable cancers and shows high responsiveness to early treatment, particularly when medical intervention begins at the first indication of digestive irregularity or rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy continues to be the gold standard for screening, enabling early detection and improving clinical outcomes.
Preventive strategies also emphasize lifestyle modification, including maintaining a balanced diet, regular physical activity and metabolic health, all of which play a critical role in reducing risk factors such as obesity and poor gut health. Dr Sanchayan Mandal, speaking at the conference, said, “I am very happy with my media interaction today, especially with the relevant questions that were asked. Colon cancer is more of a menace in urbanized centers of India owing to the easy availability of artificial means of living.
These include ready-to-cook food, irregular lifestyles lacking physical activity, round-the-clock entertainment and pollution, all of which contribute to fat accumulation and disruption of the digestive system.” He further noted that these factors, combined with substance abuse, often manifest clinically as anemia, low hemoglobin levels, decreasing appetite, diarrhea, constipation and bleeding with stool, symptoms that frequently lead to delayed reporting due to fear and social stigma. “I would request everyone to set aside their inhibitions and consult a doctor at the earliest sign of any colorectal difficulty so that the condition can be treated at its root,” he said. Addressing treatment accessibility, he added, “We follow international standards of treatment and cater to patients from all parts of life.
Those who are financially constrained can avail themselves of government health schemes, while others can rely on medical insurance.” Highlighting age-related risk, he concluded, “People are most susceptible to colon cancer at age spanning 30 to mid 40s. However not all rectal bleeding is cancerous. In case of any sudden oozing of blood, one must consult a gastroenterologist. There can be many reasons for that like piles, fissures etc. A regular check up in the form of colonoscopy, endoscopy every 10 years is important after 40.” As India continues to urbanize, colorectal cancer is emerging as a significant non-communicable disease burden. The evidence underscores a clear imperative: improving public awareness, encouraging early screening and reducing behavioral risk factors remain central to mitigating the impact of this preventable malignant malady.