Colorectal Cancer in Bangladesh: Incidence, Factors and Management

Abstract

Colorectal Cancer is one of the most rapidly emerging illnesses in our country and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In Bangladesh, Colorectal Cancer is an important cause of increasing mortality rate among the adult patients in Bangladesh. In our study of 40 patients, 68% patients were male and 32% patients were female. We observed that 27.5% patients were in age range between 51 and 60 years and 25% patients were between 31 and 40 years of age. A greater prevalence of was observed in male patients rather than in female patients. Among the male and female patients 47% patients are from rural areas and the most frequent risk factors found was Diet having low fruit and vegetable content followed by Polyp in Colon and rectum. We also found that Bloody stool made the main symptom of Colorectal Cancer. We found a variety of treatment pattern to treat the colorectal cancer patients such as Surgery (52.5%), Chemotherapy (40%) and Palliative Chemotherapy for the patients (with Stage-IV Colorectal cancer). Among the Chemotherapeutic agents Oxalitin and Leukovarine were frequently used and percentages for the both drugs were 57.5% and 47.5 respectively. During the treatment period, weakness and Alopecia were found to be the prime side effects having percentage 52.5% and 45% respectively. Among the 40 cases we studied, 25% cases were found to be recurrent.