Colorectal Cancer

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.

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

Incidence rate: 4.3 per 100,000 populations (male & female)

Mortality rate: 2.5 per 100,000 populations (male & female)

(IARC, 2021)

Pakistan

Incidence rate: 5.3 per 100,000 populations (male & female)

Mortality rate: 3.0 per 100,000 populations ((male & female)

(IARC, 2021)

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.

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.