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His Excellency Dr. Qasim Al Qasabi, Chief Executive Officer of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) asserted that survival rates for colorectal cancer patients after five years of diagnosis and who received treatment in KFSH&RC increased to 79% compared to 39% at the beginning of the millennium, thanks to the development of diagnosis and treatment system.

Dr. Al Qasabi reviewed, during the inauguration of the Saudi-International Colorectal Diseases Forum organized by KFSH&RC in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Colon & Rectal Surgery at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, a number of methods of developing specialized health services in the field of colorectal diseases, such as creating a new department for colorectal surgeons and establishing a physiological examination unit for functional colorectal diseases and the introduction of biofeedback therapy. He added that this unit is the only one of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it started with treatment of 69 cases in 2008, then the figure reaches 460 patients in the last year. Additionally, a specialized unit for provision of treatment to genetic colon diseases was established, to include the prevention of  disease to be inherited by sons, through the services of genetic examination of the fertilized egg, indicating that two families benefited from this service, such that every family gives birth- with Allah’s grace- to a healthy child free of any disease. The unit, started the treatment of 7 cases of genetic colon diseases, then the figure reached 121 cases treated until the end of last year.

At the same year, specialized diploma program was established in this field under the umbrella of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, which graduated many colorectal surgeons working now in reference hospitals across the entire KSA. Furthermore, a Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program was also established under the umbrella of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, with 10 colorectal surgery consultants have graduated so far. There are currently other nine (9) other surgeons under training.

Dr. Al Qasabi pointed out the existing cooperation between KFSH&RC and all reference hospitals in KSA, and some global specialized centers in colorectal diseases.

On his part, Dr. Nasser Al-Sanea, Professor & Section Head, Colorectal Surgery at KFSH&RC in Riyadh and the chairman of the organizing committee of “Saudi-International Colorectal Diseases Forum” that the forum is characterized by participation of visiting doctors from USA, Britain, Gulf states and Arab States, in order to share their expertise in this field. He added that the most prominent topics are discussing the standards of preventive screening for colorectal cancer in the medical community in collaboration between the Saudi Society of Colon & Rectal Surgery and the Saudi Gastroenterology Association, in addition to reviewing the latest methods of surgical treatment, including the use of laparoscopic, robot and colonoscopy, together with highlighting the last developments in diagnosing and treating the colorectal cancer, constipation diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal anastomosis and complications, diseases of difficulty to pass urine or stool, treatment of anal fistula, proper nutrition for colorectal patients, as well as the introduction of colonoscopy techniques and the placement of mineral stents, noting that there are three side workshops accompanying the forum held at KFSH&RC.