What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that develops in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be named colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start.
Note: Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Statistics
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Incidence rate: 35 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
Mortality rate: 12.2 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
(Hong Kong Cancer Registry 2020)
Nepal
Nepal
Incidence rate: 4.3 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
Mortality rate: 2.5 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
(IARC, 2021)
Pakistan
Pakistan
Incidence rate: 5.3 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
Mortality rate: 3.0 per 100,000 populations ((male & female)
(IARC, 2021)
India
India
Incidence rate: 4.8 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
Mortality rate: 2.8 per 100,000 populations (male & female)
(IARC, 2021)
Symptoms
Early stage colorectal cancer may not have any symptoms.
- Blood mixed with feces.
- Mucus in the feces.
- Change in bowel habit (e.g. Passing stool more often than usual, diarrhea alternating with constipation).
- Bloating (stomach feeling full of gas or fluid, that is unpleasant).
- Abdominal (Tummy) pains.
- Generally unwell, tiredness and weight loss.
Risk Factors
Modifiable: Mainly related to sedentary lifestyle
- High consumption of red meat and processed meat

- Lack of physical activity

- Being obese

- Excessive alcohol consumption

- Smoking

Non-Modifiable:
- Men aged 50 or above
- History of colonic polyps

- Family history of colorectal cancer
-
If your parent, sibling, or children has colorectal cancer, risk of developing the disease increases 2-3 folds.
-

- Hereditary bowel diseases
- Prolonged history of inflammation of the bowel
Please note: Having above risk factor does not mean that you must have colorectal cancer – it only means that your risk of developing colorectal cancer may be higher than average and you should seek further medical advice from your doctor.
Preventive Measures
- Eat high fiber diet such as, vegetables, fruits, whole grain, etc

- Reduce consumption of red meat

- Do regular exercise (30 minutes every day)

- Maintain a healthy body weight

- Reduce alcohol intake

- Do not smoke
