CAIRO: A recent report published by Egypt's National Cancer Institute revealed that colon cancer is the third most dangerous type of cancer that causes death in the country. The report said that it found that infection rates range from 10 to 12 percent of the total cancer cases annually reported in Egypt. Dr. Yasser Abdel-Kader, Professor of Oncology at Cairo University's Faculty of Medicine, said that men are more likely to suffer from colon cancer in Egypt compared to women, as it spread at a higher rate with males. “It also spreads among 30 percent of patients at an early age, younger than 45-years-old, and hence is dangerous because it affects the productive age and therefore has serious economic repercussions,” the doctor argued. Abdul Kader said that colon cancer is distinguished from other types of tumors as it responds in its early stages to chemotherapy and treatment, which gives hope for patients that recovery is possible. He said that approximately 50 percent of people who are afflicted with the cancer survive through the use of chemotherapy, which “doubled the response rate of 30 to 60 percent,” indicating that the problem facing Egypt is the high cost of these treatments, “which requires a scientific approach and the establishment of a sound database for patients and activating the role of civil society to support patients.” He said that the government has not fully funded anti-cancer programs and with the rising fear of Swine flu and bird flu returning, he hopes that cancer patients are not put aside due to economic concerns. Dr. Yousry Gouda, Professor of Oncology at the University of Alexandria, explained that a tumor may take 10-15 years to turn into colon cancer, pointing out that the growth of the tumor begins to spread through the wall of the colon and then through the lymph nodes and “therefore blood is seen through the proliferation in the liver and lung.” He added that through proper testing, prevention of the disease spreading can be taken. Dr. Tarek Hashem, also a Professor of Oncology at the University of Menoufia, said that the symptoms of colorectal cancer are “similar in the early stages with the symptoms of digestive disorders, advising the need for periodic medical examinations and tests.” Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians die of cancer-related diseases annually. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among Egyptians as a result of the high percentage of smoking in the country. BM
