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Background & Objective: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer of GI and 2nd most common cause of cancer death in the world. The purpose of this study was to determine epidemiologic aspect and tumor characteristics of colorectal cancer for patients and compare them in young (<50 yr) and older (>50 yr) patients. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study during 3 yr the samples of malignant colorectal cancer presented in Gorgan endoscopy and pathologic centers were collected. Data evaluated by statistically method. Results: There were 101 cases of malignant colorectal cancer. 61 cases were male and 40 cases were female. The mean age was 56±13.65 yr. 13.9% of patients were <40 yr. The type of tumor in 94% was adenocarcinoma, 2.9% lymphoma and 2.9% undifferentiated carcinoma. The site of involvement in 30 cases were rectum and in 71 cases were colon. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, constipation and rectal bleeding. The time interval between onset of symptom to diagnosis of disease in 58 cases was >6 mth. Family history of cancer in 36 cases was positive. Right colon cancer in young patient was significantly more than older (P<0.05). Positive family history of cancer in right colon cancer was significantly more other than. Positive family history of cancer in young patient was more than other (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, colorectal cancer was high. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the symptom of young patient and providing a screening program in patients over 50 years old and young patients with positive family history.

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Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer is the third common malignancy in the world. Personal habits including life style and nutrition have been proposed as risk factors of colorectal cancer. We conducted this study to assess the nutritional characteristics in colorectal cancer patients in Golestan province of Iran.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was done on 47 colorectal cancer cases, diagnosed during 2004-05 and 47 healthy controls. A questionnaire containing socio-demographic and nutritional characteristics (FFQ) was filled for each of the participants. Chi square test was used to assess the relationship between variables.

Results: In each of the two groups, 40.4% were females and 59.6% were males. The mean±SD age of age in cases and controls were 52.4±13.4 and 52.1±13.1 years, respectively. Total energy expenditure of higher than 1837.5 Kcal/ day was significantly related to colorectal cancer (OR=3.8 95% CI: 1.2-11.3). Colorectal cancer risk was higher in individual with frying cooking method (OR=3 95% CI: 0. 8-11.1). The risk of colorectal cancer was 6.5 times higher in individuals with fat consumption of higher than 118.5 grams/day (95% CI: 1.5-28.8). No significant relationship was seen between vegetables consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Conclusion: This study showed that high total energy expenditure, high fat consumption and using frying method for cooking are risk factors of colorectal cancer in Golestan prevince in Nothern of Iran.