Colorectal Cancer care nurse at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dorcas Juma, has educated the public about colorectal cancer and urged them to prioritize early screening to detect the disease and reduce rising cases
She highlighted the growing risk factors and called on Ghanaians to prioritize awareness and preventive action.
Speaking on Angel TV on Friday, March 27, 2026, she emphasised that colorectal cancer, which affects the colon or the rectum, is real and that its fatality rate is very high.
“Colorectal cancer is a cancer that affects the large intestine, the colon, or the rectum, which is in the large intestine and that is where the cancer affects, it is where the faeces pass,” she stated.
Madam Juma explained the signs and symptoms noting that if you are unable to visit the toilet for about four days, a week or more, this could indicate colorectal cancer, because the cancer blocks the colon which prevents faeces from passing.
She added that seeing blood in your faeces after visiting the toilet is another warning sign and urged people who notice such symptoms to visit the hospital for early checks before it is too late.
“Normally you can visit the toilet two or even three times a day but persistently you will see that you won’t visit the toilet for about four days, one week or even two weeks and that is a sign to know that you may have developed the cancer and also when you see blood in your toilet, it is also another symptom,” she noted.
Madam Juma noted that some people refuse to go to the hospital for checks and by the time they do it is often too late, increasing the likelihood of death.
She further urged the public to seek medical attention promptly when they notice these signs.
She also advised dietary changes to help reduce the risk involved.
The expert recommended that people cut down on instant foods such as spaghetti, pizza, and others, and eat more local foods like garden eggs, yams, wheat, oats, plantain, and others, which can help prevent the disease.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
