Colorectal Cancer in Morocco : Results of a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in female, with an estimated 1, 4 million cases and 693,900 deaths occurring in 20121. The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer in Morocco. This is a descriptive retrospective study of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed and treated at Al Azhar Oncology Center in Rabat between 2005 and 2015. During the period of study, there were 641 cases diagnosed with colorectal cancer; 371 (57, 9%) were men and 270 (42, 1%) were women, there was 54 deaths among which 63% were men and 37% were women. The average age of patients with colorectal cancer was 56 ± 14.6 years whereas the average age of death was 53, 8 ± 13, 7 years. The maximum of frequency for this kind of cancer was between the age of 40 and 59 years old. The study also showed that there was no association between the age and the risk of the death. Despite the limitations of the available data, it is clear that there are several barriers to access to cancer control in developing countries. This includes prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment.