Whereas the occurrence of colorectal cancer was once seen as infrequent in\u00a0parts of Asia, the rate in recent decades appears to be steadily increasing.\u00a0Colorectal cancer represents one of the most important causes of cancer\u00a0mortality worldwide as well as in many regions in Asia. Rapid changes in\u00a0socioeconomic and lifestyle habits have been attributed to the notable increase in\u00a0the incidence of colon and rectal cancers in many Asian countries. Indeed\u00a0studies of modifiable lifestyle factors have identified several dietary and\u00a0behavioral risk factors that could be targeted for prevention strategies specifically\u00a0in Asians. Likewise, significant progress has been made in identifying Asianspecific\u00a0genetic variants that confer an increased susceptibility to colorectal\u00a0cancer, although generalizability across diverse Asian populations is still ongoing\u00a0in various studies. Improvements in early detection and treatment are needed,\u00a0but given health-care resources and economic development, the best method of\u00a0implementation remains an active discussion in various countries of Asia.\u00a0Summarized here is a description of the changes in risk factors for colorectal\u00a0cancer among Asian populations, and some approaches to screening and early\u00a0detection that have been considered across various countries in the region.<\/p>\n
International Journal of Colorectal Disease, pp. 1-2, 29 March 2016<\/p>\n