Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

The Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute specializes in identifying signs of colorectal cancer (cancer of the rectum or colon) at the earliest possible stage by offering expert screening to the community.

Early detection reduces the need for surgery or other interventions and improves patient outcomes. There are two main goals of colorectal cancer screening. The first one is to identify precancerous lesions, called polyps. Polyps can be removed without surgery to prevent colorectal cancer cells from forming. The second goal is to identify cancers at an early stage, making it possible to give the patient the required treatment at the right time.

The Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides comprehensive, Patients First care across a wide spectrum of colorectal conditions. The colorectal cancer screening team offers the latest therapies from expert gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons to help patients progress quickly from diagnosis to treatment.

What We Treat

Colorectal cancer (which may also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer) usually starts with the growth of benign tumors, also known as polyps, that become cancerous over time. Colorectal cancer screening helps ensure early, successful treatment.

Many patients do not experience noticeable symptoms. For this reason, screening is seen as an essential, proactive step to identifying colorectal cancer early. For patients who do experience symptoms, the most common signs of colorectal cancer include:

• Blood in or around the stool
• Change in bowel habits
• Abdominal pain or bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting

Colorectal cancer has been linked to diet, particularly one that includes large amounts of red or processed meat; obesity; smoking; and lack of exercise. Several of these risk factors are widespread throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

At the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, our team of specialists are highly trained in a variety of procedures for the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives

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Diagnosis Using Colorectal Cancer Screening

Because most patients with colorectal polyps or cancer do not have any symptoms, it is important to be screened regularly. There are several ways to screen for colorectal cancer for patients at average risk, including:

• Stool test: A test that involves sending a stool sample to a laboratory, where it is examined for signs of colorectal cancer, such as blood in the stool.
• Sigmoidoscopy: A test that uses a long flexible tube with a camera on the end, called a sigmoidoscope, to examine the lower part of the large intestine.
• Colonoscopy: A procedure that detects and removes polyps in the colon.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard, and the recommended method for screening for colorectal polyps, is a colonoscopy. Performed in the hospital as an outpatient procedure, a colonoscopy involves using a flexible tube to transmit images of the inside of the colon. During a colonoscopy procedure, the patient is placed under general anesthesia, so most patients do not feel any discomfort during or after the procedure. Patients often report that the most difficult part of the process is the bowel preparation, which involves taking laxatives the day before to clean out the patient’s bowels.

Treatment Using Colorectal Cancer Screening

One important benefit of a colonoscopy is that a polyp can be removed as soon as it is found, during the procedure. The objective is to prevent the polyp from potentially developing into colorectal cancer in the future. Where cancer is identified, interventional endoscopists and fellowship-trained colorectal surgeons of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program offer the latest interventional technology, including minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is a leader in robotically-assisted colon surgery, which allows physicians better dexterity during the operation and greatly reduces patient recovery time.