Introduction:
The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection is the process of looking for causes that may lead to colorectal cancer for people aged 50 years or older, who do not have any risk factors to detect and diagnose the disease in its early stages or even to detect one of its risk factors, by means of searching for polyps. Colon polyps are abnormal growth on the inner lining of the large intestine (colon). These polyps are usually benign (non-cancerous), which can be one or more, but their growth rate increases with aging.
Objectives:
- Reduce the incidence of the disease.
- Increase the success rate of treatment, Allah Willing.
- Reduce the colorectal cancer mortality rate.
- Improve the quality of lifestyle of colorectal cancer patients.
The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Project:
This Project targets the colorectal cancer patients registered at healthcare centers, who are classified according to the probability of developing the disease into the following:
- People at moderate risk of the disease: Those who are between 45 and 75 years old, and show no symptoms of the disease and have no family medical history of the disease or polyps.
- People at high risk of the disease: Those who have medical history of polyps, have one or more of the first-degree relatives with medical history of the disease or polyps, have two or more of the second-degree relatives with medical history of the disease or polyps, or have ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or some other conditions, such as: a personal history of cancer, which requires radiation therapy to the abdomen.
Examination Periods:
Early and Periodic Screening for Colorectal Cancer: The severity of colorectal cancer can vary based on the following factors:
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT):
- Target group: people at moderate risk of the disease (aged 45 - 75 years).
- Result:
- Negative: The FOBT is repeated once a year.
- Positive: The patient is referred to total colonoscopy.
- Total colonoscopy:
- Target group:
- People at high risk of the disease.
- People with a positive FOBT result.
- Result:
- Negative: The colonoscopy is repeated:
- Once every 5 years for people at moderate risk of the disease.
- Once a year for people at high risk of the disease.
- Positive: The patient is referred to therapy.