Regular screening to prevent colorectal cancer stressed
BSS, Rajshahi
Screening to detect pre-cancerous growth and also diagnose cancer at early stage is crucial to prevent colorectal cancer and save lives. Colorectal cancer is considered as one of the top five cancers in Bangladesh which kills many people every year. Cancers arising from the colon, rectum, appendix and anus are called colorectal cancers.
Cancer Specialist Professor Dr Dayem Uddin made the above-mentioned observation while presenting his keynote paper at a scientific seminar on Colorectal Cancer Awareness hosted by Professor Dayem Uddin Cancer Foundation in association with SANOFI at Nanking Darbar Hall in the city on Tuesday.
Director of Mothers Clinic Dr Shahla Hossain, editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat and Arifuzzaman Nur and Farid Uddin Sardar from SANOFI also spoke on the occasion.
Prof Dayem, Department Head of Clinical Oncology in Barind Medical College and Hospital, says most colorectal cancers develop from pre-existing benign polyps grape like growth inside the colon or rectum.
That is why screening to detect this pre-cancerous growth and also diagnose the cancer at early stage is crucial to prevent cancer and save lives. He told the audience that diet made up mostly of foods that are high in fat, especially from animal sources, can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
People who are not physically active have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Obesity raises the risk of colon cancer in both men and women, but the link seems to be stronger in men. Referring to recent studies, he mentioned that smokers are 30 to 40 per cent more likely than nonsmokers to die of colorectal cancer. Heavy use of alcohol has also been linked to colorectal cancer.
He recommends that colorectal cancer screening should be a part of routine healthcare for people over the age of 50. People having these risk factors are strongly recommended to be screened earlier.
