The Health Promotion Department yesterday launched an awareness campaign on colorectal cancer in collaboration with Saint James Hospital.

Throughout the month of March, which is dedicated to Colorectal Cancer Awareness, Saint James Hospital is offering free counselling and advice how to prevent and detect colorectal cancer.

Cancers of the large intestine, which includes the colon and the rectum, were the second most frequent cancer in Malta from 1999 to 2003, with 781 new cases registered during the five-year period.

Unlike breast cancer, which is more frequent in women, and lung cancer, which is more frequent in men, colorectal cancer is equally spread between men and women.

In 2003, 87 men and 66 women got colorectal cancer in Malta, while 44 men and 48 women died because of the cancer. This is the latest data available.

According to the London-based Cancer Research, colorectal cancer kills 98,500 men and women each year in the European Union.

Although it occurs more frequently after the age of 50, cases of younger people are not uncommon.

If a parent has got colorectal cancer, then the children have a 50 per cent chance of getting that cancer, said Dr Josie Muscat, director of St James Hospital.

Colorectal cancer occurs when the cells in the colon grow out of control and form a small group of abnormal cells. These cells grow into a lump called a polyp.

A polyp is a small, non-cancerous tumour that sometimes turns into cancer.

Colorectal cancer may have no symptoms in the early stages. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include a change in bowel habits, a change in the way bowel movements look, diarrhoea or constipation, blood in bowel movements, frequent gas pains, an unexplained loss in weight, and symptoms of anaemia, like fatigue and tiredness.

These symptoms can be caused by something less serious, like an ulcer, swelling of the colon, or haemorrhoids. If you have these symptoms for the first time, consult a doctor.

You can prevent colon cancer by getting regular screening tests beginning at age 50, eat less red meat, take a multivitamin with folate every day, be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day, maintain a healthy weight, limit the amount of alcohol you drink and eat more vegetables.

Dr Joe Garzia Stafrace from St James Hospital explained that there are two phases in colorectal cancer screening.

In phase one, a detailed assessment followed by a blood test and a stool test are carried out. This can already indicate one’s potentiality of being a high or low-risk candidate.

Phase two involves an X-Ray examination or better else an endoscopy. It is more detailed and more conclusive however slightly more invasive. The test enables the specialist to take samples from dubious sights as well.

Provided it is caught in its earliest, most treatable stages, colorectal cancer is treatable most of the time.

Marianne Massa, principal health information officer, Health Promotion Department, insisted on the need for early detection in order to prevent colorectal cancer.

“The message of the Health Promotion Department is that everyone should take part in regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer,” said Ms Massa.

Family history plays an important part too, so everyone should be aware of their own family history, she added.