Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Arabia: The Way Forward
Nasr Eldin Elwali, Omar Jarrah, Saeed G. Alzahrani, Mohamed Alharbi, Abdulmohsen Alhejaily, Abdullah Alsharm, Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Saudi males and the second most common cancer in Saudi females with increasing incidence throughout the last four decades. Although the disease incidence is on the rise, still there is no systemic screening for colorectal cancer in the Saudi population. Early onset colorectal cancer is common in the Saudi population and up to 50% in Saudi patients diagnosed at late stages with regional and distal metastasis. Therefore, more efforts are required to control the disease in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this regard, systematic work at national level is highly required to make colorectal cancer screening for population at risk part of the routine primary health care activities. This paper highlights the current situation of colorectal cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with relation to incidence, mortality and morbidity in addition to the disease control efforts going on. Finally, some recommendations are provided to strengthen the control program of colorectal cancer.