day symposium that will include lectures, open discussions, workshops and announcements of the most recent news and research findings related to colorectal cancer was recently inaugurated by Dr. Othman Bin Ahmed, the deputy CEO of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh. Famous soccer Majed Abdullah was a guest of honor at the forum on colon cancer hosted by the hospital. The involvement of public figures and local heroes is a great way to draw people's attention to and increase the society's awareness on important issues, whether environmental, health or educational. In this case, getting Abdullah to speak about these issues sparked the interest of the community in the said disease. According to Dr. Othman Bin Ahmed, around 3,000 cases of colorectal cancer have been successfully treated at KFSHRC in the past ten years. Of these cases, 76 percent were treated with a multi-faceted approach, which included several of the treatment options: chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, nutritional counseling and close follow-up care. Health care for colorectal disorders has witnessed huge leaps and improvements in the last twelve years. KFSHRC has a long and remarkable history in the treatment of cancers of the digestive tract. In the year 2000, the hospital founded the first specialized center for colorectal surgery in the Kingdom. A research and study center was established to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancers and digestive disorders in general in the Kingdom. In the year 2008, KFSHRC opened a complete unit for diagnostic tests and treatment of colorectal cancer, which included advanced techniques, such as modern diagnostic laboratory tests, radiation therapy, colonoscopy and a patient education center that helps patients become more active participants in the treatment and recovery process. Dr. Othman Bin Ahmed also revealed plans of building the King Abdullah Medical Center for Cancer and Liver Disorders which will have a capacity of 300 beds. The center is being designed for patients with chronic liver conditions and aggressive tumors. It will be supplied with the most modern equipment and will meet the requirements of the highest worldwide standards in health care. The agreement for this center was signed in the year 2011 and its construction is currently under way, as reported in Al-Yawm daily. __
