Cancer center urges the public to undergo early screening to prevent colorectal cancer

By Hazel F. Gloria

Friday 2nd of March 2012

CEBU CITY, March 2 (PIA) --- In celebration of the Colorectal Awareness Month in March, a Cebu-based cancer Center urged the public to undergo early screening to fight colorectal cancer.

The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) also advised the public to observe a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and maintenance of a well-balanced diet.

EJACC project coordinator Ronald delos Reyes urged the public to take this counsel seriously to prevent against this type of cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum become abnormal and divide without control forming a mass called tumor, Delos Reyes said.

It is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Cebuanos, based on the Cancer Registry of EJACC.

The Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry of EJACC recorded 653 cases in 1998-2002 and 364 reported who have died of it.

In 2002-2007 the Cancer Registry recorded an increased number of reported cases in Metro Cebu to 862 and 489 cases died of the disease.

Individuals age 40 and above who have a sedentary lifestyle, who are eating high fat and low fiber diet, who have family and medical history of the disease, and who have polyps and ulcerative colitis, face higher risks of acquiring colorectal cancer, Delos Reyes noted.

“The most important thing to know about colorectal cancer is that it often exists without any symptoms. This is why regular screening is very important. It can detect polyps at an early state before cancer develops or when it is most curable,” delos Reyes added.

He also pointed out that the colon and rectum which comprise the large intestine are vital in turning liquid stool into formed fecal matter. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & RAFI)