Colon cancer more prevalent in men than women in Sabah — Doctor
SANDAKAN: Colorectal cancer or colon cancer is the number one cancer type with the highest number of patients in Sabah after breast cancer and lung cancer, said Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi.
She said, according to the department’s statistics from 2006 to 2010 in Sabah, colon cancer ranked first in men and third in women after breast cancer and cervical cancer.
The data also revealed that over 1,000 patients were diagnosed with colon cancer in Sabah in five years (2006-2010).
“Hence, it is important to spread more information about colon cancer among Sabahans so that they know of the early symptoms, whether or not they are at risk of colon cancer, and where to go for screening,” said Dr Christina in launching the ‘Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign’ at Yu Yuan Secondary School hall near Mile 4 here, yesterday.
The campaign is held for the first time in Sandakan by a team of health personnel from the Duchess of Kent Hospital here, with the support of local government agencies and private corporations.
Dr Christina complimented the hospital for organising the campaign and she hoped for it to be held continuously in order to reach a larger audience and residents from other parts of Sandakan including Beluran, Kinabatangan and Telupid.
“A campaign such as this is important because colorectal cancer has a lot to do with one’s lifestyle; not only affected by genetics or inheritance.
“The campaign explains to the public that one could lower the chance of getting colorectal cancer by living a healthy lifestyle: do not drink alcohol and smoke, exercise often and consume a healthy diet,” she explained.
She also pointed out that it was important for people to know the early symptoms of colon cancer in order for them to get early screening, which was a vital first step to save a colon cancer patient before it is too late.
The early symptoms include blood in stool, sudden change in fecal movement such as constipation and diarrhoea, long term constipation, fatigue and abdominal pain.
According to Dr Christina, 11 health clinics in Sabah offer early screening for colon cancer named Stool Occult Blood (SOB), which is to detect blood in stool and colonoscopy (further test to detect colon cancer).
This year, the number of clinics providing SOB and colonoscopy screening increased to 15. In Sandakan, Sandakan Health Clinic and Health Clinic Mile 10 offer screening to test colon cancer.
Dr Christina said she hoped for all health clinics in Sabah to have facilities to offer screening in the future.
However, she said that the facilities provided served no purpose if people were not aware of colon cancer symptoms and the importance of getting an early screening.
“These screening facilities are not going to knock on people’s doors. The people need to come themselves. In order for them to come for screening, they should be concerned about their health and they must understand colon cancer. Hence, awareness campaigns such as this is important and must be held continuously,” she stressed.
Dr Christina revealed that last year, 1,001 people performed SOB screening and 116 of them or more than ten per cent tested positive.
“For the first screening (SOB), if tested positive, it does not mean that the patient is positive with colon cancer. It can only be determined after the second screening (colonoscopy) is performed,” she explained.
Meanwhile, an awareness talk on colon cancer was also conducted by by Consultant General Surgeon Head of Surgical Department of Duchess of Kent Hospital here, Dr Lai Chung Ket, during the campaign.
Those who are at higher risk of getting colon cancer are the males (compared to females), those with unhealthy lifestyle (less exercise, alcohol drinkers and smokers), those who are 60 years old and above and the Chinese (compared to Malay and Indian).
According to the National Cancer Registry (Malaysia) 2006 – 2008, life long risk of getting colon cancer for men is 1:38 and 1:50 for women.
“Obesity increases risk of colon cancer by 30% in men and 20% in women, while diabetes increases risk of colon cancer by 30% for men and women.”
During a press conference held after the launching ceremony, Duchess of Kent Hospital Director Dr Francis Paul told reporters that he hoped the awareness programme would grow in terms of its targer audience in the following years.
“I also want to highlight to the people here that if any early symptom is present, please go to the hospital for screening for medical treatment. I urge the people not to seek for traditional treatment method such as through ‘bomoh’ (witch doctors).
“It is often very difficult to see patients coming in for the first time at very late stage of colon cancer, as this could have been avoided had they come to the hospital earlier,” he added.
The campaign started off with over 400 people taking part in Colon Cancer Awareness Run in the morning, followed by an awareness talk, cancer survivor sharing, colouring competition, quizzes and free screening.