Colorectal cancer among Yemeni patients. Characteristics and trends.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the characteristics and trends of colorectal cancer registered in Aden Cancer Registry.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all registered cancers (1735) was performed at Aden Cancer Center, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen from the years 1997-2001, to describe colorectal cancers with regards to age, sex and residency distribution, subsites and histopathology, and incidence rates.

RESULTS

The results indicate that digestive system cancers are the most common cancers (17.1%); and colorectal cancer (28%) is the most common of these. Developing countries characteristics of this cancer are clear. These include a relatively high proportion of early-onset tumor (19.3% of cases were <40 years), and left sided subsite distribution (49.4% of cases were in the rectum and rectosigmoid junction).

CONCLUSION

Further analytical studies, to address the community-related risk factors, public education, and screening programs for colorectal cancer are mandatory.