title: Study on colorectal cancer presentation, treatment and follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the second most common cancer in women and men affecting 9.7 % population worldwide. Although CRC mortality has been progressively declining since 1990 at a rate of about 3 % per year, it still remains the third most common cause of cancer deaths.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the patterns of clinical presentation, treatment options and follow-up of colorectal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of patients with colorectal carcinoma admitted at St. Luke's Hospital Kilkenny from January 2009 to December 2014 were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 113, 57 were males and 28 were 75 years or older. Sixty-seven percent presented in the outpatient clinic. The main presentation symptom was bleeding per rectum (40 %), followed by abdominal pain, altered bowel habit, bowel obstruction and weight loss. Mean time delay was 4.79, 6.20 and 4.83 weeks for surgical outpatient department (SOPD), colonoscopy and surgery, respectively. Ninety-eight percent of patients underwent preoperative staging with computed tomography of thorax, abdomen and pelvis (CTTAP) and 78 % had preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurement. Thirty-four percent of cancers had already metastasized to distant organs. Twenty five percent underwent a right hemicolectomy. Seventy-eight percent received a primary anastomosis. Ninety-five percent achieved a R0 resection. Sixty-two percent were given adjuvant chemotherapy. Seventy-six percent had surgery follow-up and 57 % had excellent follow-up. Cancer recurred in two patients. Thirty day mortality was 2 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that the mean age group at risk for colorectal cancer is 65 years (range 54-75). Still, 33 % of patients present to acute surgical assessment units with advanced disease. Though we did well in terms of operative resections, follow-up still remains a challenge.
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland. Aakif_khan2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0506-9109
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aakif
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balfe
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elfaedy
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Faisal Nazir
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Awan
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Friedrick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvio
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Constantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castinera
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Hospital Kilkenny, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Follow-up; Surgical outpatient department