Late presentation of large bowel cancer: How to address the problem?

Abstract

Background. Colorectal carcinoma has world wide distribution but its high incidence is present in
industrialized countries. It was predominantly a disease of elderly but now younger patients are also
presenting with this disease.
Methods. It is an observational study of seventy-four patients diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma
admitted in surgical unit-III, Services hospital, Lahore from September, 1997 to June, 2004. They
contributed 1% of all patients presented with surgical problems involving gastro-intestinal tract.
Results. Bleeding per rectum and altered bowel habits were the commonest presentations followed by
large gut obstruction. More over, 40% of our patients were less than 40 years of age. The incidence of
colorectal carcinoma is on the rise in Pakistan and especially in younger age group. Thirty five patients
(47.2%) presented with advanced disease. Twenty four patients (35.2%) of colorectal carcinoma presented
in emergency, twenty two patients (29.7%) presented with acute or sub-acute intestinal obstruction and four
patients (5.3%) with perforation of the colon due to delay in diagnosis.
Conclusion.Aplan should be charted out for the early diagnosis and treatment to achieve better prognosis
and survival index of the patients