Studies also show that colon cancer is the third-most common cancer in men.
Young people in the UAE are getting more prone to colon cancer with one-fifth of patients below the age of 40, doctors in the UAE have warned.
A recent study on colon cancer conducted on residents between the ages of 29 to 81 years found that 22 per cent of the cancer cases were patients below the age of 40, while people younger than 50 years made up 41 per cent.
During the World Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March, doctors at the RAK Hospital urged the UAE residents to be alert of their colon health and opt for screening at an earlier age instead of waiting to turn 50 which is the current protocol.
“Since colon cancer is generally asymptomatic in the earlier stages, it has sufficient time before it manifests itself and spreads to an incurable stage,” warned Dr Naveed Azam, senior consultant gastroenterologist at the RAK Hospital. “The cancer begins as a small polyp which can be detected during a colonoscopy, CT colonogram or barium studies. If found early, the polyps can be removed, preventing them from turning cancerous. Another option is to check for occult blood in the stools or stool DNA test before a colonoscopy.”
Published: khaleejtimes.com | March 26, 2019
Read More:
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/uae-health/one-fifth-of-uae-colon-cancer-patients-are-below-40
