New research findings from the Chinese University of Hong Kong revealed on Tuesday that up to 30 percent of people who have shown no symptoms of bowel cancer may have pre-cancerous bowel tumors.

The research has led to a call for the government to initiate a city-wide bowel cancer screening program.

Bowel cancer is the second most lethal form of cancer in the city, with 4,000 new cases a year.

Adding to the concern is that there has been a rising trend in recent years, according to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry of the Hospital Authority.

Previous medical research found that most bowel cancers develop from pre-cancerous lesions. Screening is an effective form of prevention for bowel cancer, researchers said.

About 8,000 citizens, aged between 50-70, with no symptoms of bowel cancer, received free bowel cancer screenings between May 2008 and June 2011.

These studies included both fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopy offered by the Bowel Cancer Education Centre of the university.

The examination found that about 30 percent of participants having undergone colonoscopy were diagnosed with adenoma or advanced neoplasm, which can develop into cancer.

Twelve of the participants were found to have bowel cancer.

"The screening is effective to detect pre-cancerous bowel lesions among asymptomatic patients. The screening is also safe, for there were only three patients who developed severe complications after colonoscopy and all recovered well afterwards," said Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung, honorary director of the center.

"As people get older, they have a higher risk. From the age of 50, people are at a greatly increased risk for the development of bowel cancer," said Professor Martin Wong Chi-sang, director of the center.

Approximately 35,000 Hong Kong citizens have enrolled in the program since its commencement.

fanfeifei@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/28/2011 page1)