Colorectal Cancer In Malaysia

Anatomy of the colon and rectum it is one of the most common cancers.

Colorectal cancer in malaysia. 15 presently surgical resection provides the best hope. Colorectal cancer commonly known as colon cancer or large intestine cancer originates from the tissues of the colon the longest part of the large intestine or rectum the last several inches of the large intestine before the anus. Increasing population and longer life spans contributes to rise of cancer. Overall men are only a little more likely than women to develop colorectal cancer.

It is estimated that one in four malaysians 1 4 will develop cancer by 75 years old. Colorectal cancer is the third commonest cause of cancer deaths in malaysia. The good news. Data from the ministry of health of malaysia confirms an increase in colorectal cancer admission rates from 8 1 in 1987 to 11 9 in 1995 moh 1995.

The most common type of colorectal cancer is the adenocarcinoma. This subsequently developed into the malaysian society of colorectal surgeons which was formally registered with the registry of societies malaysia in 2006. The majority of colorectal cancer patients in malaysia present at a late stage with a poor prognosis 11 12 which can obviously increase the health burden due to the higher treatment cost and poor quality of life in the late stages 13 14 at present there is no formal structured national colorectal cancer screening program in malaysia. Colorectal cancer is today the most common cancer in men and third most common cancer in women in malaysia.

The national cancer registry of malaysia ncr records 21 773 malaysians being diagnosed with cancer but estimates that almost 10 000 cases are unregistered every year. The study estimated 4 539 new cases of colorectal cancer in malaysia in 2012. Colorectal cancer is a malignant growth that occurs in either the colon or rectum. Colorectal cancer also known as bowel cancer or colon cancer refers to the tumour that stems from the cells in the lining of the large intestine and or rectum.

In 2003 a group of like minded surgeons formed a special interest group with the objective of improving the quality of colorectal surgery in malaysia.