By Noimot Olayiwola
Staff Reporter

Al Amal Hospital plans to start a colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy) programme for people aged above 50 as there has been an increase in the number of people affected by the disease in Qatar, Gulf Times has learnt.
“We will designate two primary healthcare centres in addition to our department (at Al Amal) to conduct free screening for colorectal cancer (colon cancer and cancer of the rectum) for adults aged above 50 years, especially those within the high-risk group,” department chairman Dr Ussama al-Homsi told  Gulf Times.
In an interview, al-Homsi explained that the screening programme became necessary as there had been an increase in the number of colorectal cancer cases in the country.
“We have noticed that there is a sharp increase in number of people being affected by colorectal cancer, especially among males, constituting the greater percentage of the population,” al-Homsi said.
He said that colorectal cancer had become number three on the list of cancers in Qatar after breast cancer and lymphoma.
It is also the third most common cancer in men and women in the US, according to the American Cancer Society.
“In 2008, there were 72 cases of colorectal cancer recorded in Qatar compared to 64 and 43 cases in 2007 and 2006 respectively. This statistics show us that the number of cases is on the increase,” he said.
Al-Homsi explained that causes of colorectal cancer could be linked to sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits like consumption of low-fibre food and too much red meat.
“Obesity, absence of physical activity and modern lifestyle leading to stress can all predispose colorectal cancer later in life, especially in the 50s,” he said.
Al-Homsi explained that low-fibre food could cause constipation, leading to “contamination” of the colon walls and then to cancer over a period.
“Colon cancer and cancer of the rectum usually begin as small polyps. While most colon polyps are benign, some do become cancerous,” he explained.
He said colon cancer symptoms might include a change in bowel habits or bleeding, adding that usually colon cancer struck without symptoms.
He said it could take 10 years before symptoms of colorectal cancer could begin to manifest.
 “That is why it is important to get a colon cancer screening test such as a colonoscopy. If the cancer is found early, we can use surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for effective treatment,” he said.
Patients whose disease is in the advanced stage and could not be cured would receive adjuvant treatment (treatment that is given in addition to the primary one) to kill the microscopic tumour cells developing in their colons.
“This palliative treatment will give this category of patients a new lease of life as they can at least survive for more than two years, which is a big difference from six months they could expect to live for before,” he said.