Colorectal Cancer Screening in the age of Universal Healthcare

Last March 4, 2020, a special forum about Colorectal Cancer was held at the Barcelon Auditorium at The Medical City, Pasig City.

#ColorectalCancer is the third most common cancer among Filipinos. Screening for colorectal cancer can save lives and has been shown to reduce the cancer risk by as high as 70 percent.

In the forum, people from medical field, special guests even patients learned about the benefits of screening, diagnosis, and management of Colorectal Cancer in the era of Universal Healthcare.

The keynote speakers include Dr. Eric Tayag, Director IV-Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service, Dr. Napoleon Arevalo from the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of Health, and Pasig City District Representative Roman Romulo. #BeatColonCancerAtTMC


Beating Colorectal Cancer

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This is an important campaign as colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer among Filipinos. Breast  and Lung Cancers are more prevalent in the Philippines.

The Medical City aims to be at the forefront in the fight aginst colorectal cancer. This cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. CRC screening can save lives, but not that many people are being screened. We should continue to educate the general public and mobilize the health community into programs to beat colorectal cancer.

Almost all of these cancer start as abnormal growths in the lining of the colon and rectum called polyps. These polyps grow slowly and take around 10 years for some polyps to develop into cancer. Not all polyps progress to cancer. The removal of these polyps reduces the risk of developing cancer.

Risk Factors For Colorectal Cancer
The most common individual-specific factors that increase risk for cancer in the colon and rectum are:
1. age greater than 50
2. personal history of colorectal cancer or advanced polyps
3. family history of cancer in the colob and rectum

Age >50 is the most common risk factor for this cancer, as 90% of occur after the age of 50. A family history of a first-degree relative with CRC is increased two to three fold.


Be Screened
In several countries, CRC screening is recommended for people starting the age of 50 years. Screening at an earlier age, usually 40, is advocated in first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer, and in those with other additional risk factors.

The gold standard for CRC screening is a colonoscopy as it can detect and remove early lesions like polyps. The procedure involces a flexible fiberoptic scope with a camera that ia inaerted through the rectum and ia carefully advance to visualize the colon under mild anesthesia. However, it is an invasive test and has low risk to cause complications.