Atlanta, GA: March is colorectal cancer awareness month. NASDAQ invited Dr Indran Indrakrishnan, from the board of directors of Fight Colorectal Cancer, a leading national colorectal cancer advocacy organization recognized as a top cancer nonprofit by Philanthropedia & Guidestar, to ring the opening bell on March 25th to honor and recognize its service and to increase the colon cancer awareness among the public. Dr Indran Indrakrishnan, a clinical Professor of Medicine at Emory University school of Medicine and a practicing Gastroenterologist in Lawrenceville with a special interest in colon cancer screening participated in the NASDAQ opening bell ringing ceremony at Times Square, New York and met with many colon cancer survivors and families of patients who died of colon cancer who flew from many parts of the country for this event.
Fight Colorectal Cancer, a not for profit organization empowers survivors to raise their voices, trains advocates around the country, and educates lawmakers and pushes them for better policies. It offers support for patients, family members and their caregivers, and serve as a resource for colorectal cancer advocates, policymakers, medical professionals, and healthcare providers. Additionally, it does everything it can to increase and improve research at all stages of development and for all stages of colon cancer.
Colon cancer is a preventable, detectable and treatable malignancy, yet the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Georgia including amongst those of Indian ethnic origin. The compliance for colon cancer screening is poor in the Indian community presumably due to a common false belief that vegetarians do not get colon cancer.
Removal of colon polyps by colonoscopy is the key in the prevention of colon cancer. A diet rich in fiber, vegetables and fruits but low in meats and fats have anti oxidants which can neutralize the free radicals which are thought to be the promoters of colon cancer and polyps. Supplements such as folic acid, calcium and a small dose aspirin appear to have a protective effect on colon cancer/ polyps. Regular physical exercise and avoiding tobacco products can also help in reducing the risk of colon cancer.
