Colorectal cancer the top killer among Msian men

Star: PETALING JAYA: Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum, is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the world that has crept into the lives of Malaysian men.
The Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons (MSCRS) said this was due to a fast-paced lifestyle that is commonly associated with developed nations.
MSCRS president Dr Samuel Tay said there were also other factors that had made colorectal cancer the top “killer cancer” among Malaysian males, some of whom are as young as 16.
He said those who face this risk include those with a family history of polyps (a growth from a mucous membrane commonly found in organs such as the rectum, the uterus, and the nose) and people who maintain a high-fat-low-fibre diet.
Obesity and leading an unhealthy lifestyle could also make a person suffer from this cancer,” he told The Star on the sidelines of the 4th Malaysian Colorectal Conference here yesterday.
Participants from all over Malaysia and five other countries – Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines – are attending the three-day meeting, which ends today.
The conference also marked the official launching of the MSCRS.
However, Dr Tay gave an assurance that taking a proactive attitude towards health would help in detecting the cancer in its early stages.
“Colorectal cancer at its early stages has no symptoms and it is indistinguishable from non-cancer colon problems,” he said.