[Malignant tumors of the colon and rectum]

The authors present their five year long experience in surgical treatment of colorectal cancer at Zvornik Health Center. 77 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer underwent surgery during the five year period (1998-2002). This number represented about 2% of the total number of surgeries performed during the same time period. 80% of surgical interventions were elective, (82 patients), and 20% urgent (35 patients). Standard surgical procedures were applied in determining of the anatomical location of the pathological substrate. Aggravating factors in successful application of surgical intervention in treatment of colorectal cancer are: late diagnosis of colorectal cancer, low level of health education of the population, inadequate training of the physicians in primary health care, nonexistent national program for early detection of noninfectious diseases. In cases where colorectal cancer was diagnosed in an advanced stage, two-stage treatment and multi modal approach in combination with chemotherapy were treatments of choice. Incidence of colorectal cancer is still on the rise.