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• Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common malignancy in the U.S. population. (excluding skin malignancies).
• The rate of diagnosis of new cases has decreased since the 1980s thanks to preventive colonoscopy and changes in a healthier lifestyle.
• In general, the risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1/23 in men and 1/26 in women.
• The main risk factors are obesity, poor physical condition, increased intake of red and processed meats, smoking and alcohol.

As surgeons, we prefer to prevent rather than treat, which is why regular lower digestive endoscopy can lead to a diagnosis of malignancy at an early stage with very high cure rates. It is worth mentioning that the American Society of Colorectal Surgeons now recommends that regular preventive colonoscopy begin at age 45 in patients with a clear family history.

What is Rectal/Colorectal Cancer?

Cancer is defined as the uncontrolled proliferation of malignant cells.

Tumors located within the last 15 cm of the anus are classified as rectal malignancy.

The remaining neoplasms are classified as colon tumors.

What are the symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Colorectal cancer usually does not show symptoms in the very early stages. For this reason, the cornerstone of early diagnosis is preventive lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.

When symptoms do occur, they are mainly the following:

• Diarrhea or constipation or change in stool consistency
• Blood in the stool
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas, or pain
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Diagnosis of colon cancer includes:

• Clinical examination by a doctor
• Endoscopy (preventive and diagnostic)
• CT scan
• Blood tests
• Testing for cancer markers
• Histopathological examination of the biopsy taken through endoscopy in patient

Treatment using robotic technology

In addition to prevention, technology plays a huge role in the success of treatment. At the Athens Medical Center, Dr. Konstantinidis and his team use robotic technology to provide a solution to all surgical procedures, dramatically increasing success rates while simultaneously reducing the rates of complications such as bleeding, conversion to open surgery or creation of an unnatural site (colostomy).

However, the cornerstone of the success of any procedure and the most important factor is the experience of the surgical team. The clinic of general, laparoscopic, oncological and robotic surgery under the direction of Dr. Konstantinidis, having brought laparoscopic surgery to our country in 1991 and robotic surgery in 2006, now has an accumulated experience of 17,500 laparoscopic and 4,000 robotic surgeries, of which more than 2,500 concern diseases of the colon and rectum.

This experience has made the team a world pioneer and has established Dr. Konstantinidis as an opinion leader in surgery. His clinic at the Athens Medical Center stands out on the global scientific map, now offering services equal to those of the largest and most specialized centers in the U.S. and Europe.