Sri Lanka has raised concern over a significant increase in Colorectal cancer, with 3,000 patients reported, the Health Ministry said.
According to Globocan 2022 data, the number of new cases of colorectal cancer worldwide is around 1.9 million, with the number of deaths exceeding 900,000.
The Community Health Specialist of the National Cancer Control Programme, Dr. Hasarali Fernando said that early identification of the symptoms of this disease can often lead to a complete cure.
Fernando highlighted that risk of colorectal cancer increases with age, especially after 50, and with smoking and alcohol consumption.
Meanwhile, Colorectal Surgeon, Dr. Wasantha Wijenayake stated that by 2040 around 3.5 million patients will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
“After the age of 40, about 50% of people may have polyps, which are growths in the colon or rectum. But not all polyps cause cancer, only about 4% of them can become cancer,” he said.
Wijenayake said that the process takes 5 to 10 years and during this time the identified polyps can be removed and the disease controlled.
Furthermore, he said that one out of 23 males and one out of 26 females are at risk of developing colorectal cancer.
(dailymirror.lk)
(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
