Screening Perspectives: The Role of Colorectal Cancer Awareness in Shaping Attitudes Toward Colonoscopy in Palestine.

PURPOSE: To assess colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness and its influence on attitudes toward colonoscopy in Palestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to recruit Palestinian adults from hospitals, primary health care centers, and public spaces across 11 governorates. To evaluate the awareness of CRC signs/symptoms, risk factors, and mythical causes, the Bowel Cancer Awareness Measure and Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale were used after translation into Arabic. For each correctly recognized item, one point was given. The total awareness score of each domain was calculated and categorized into tertiles; the top tertile was considered high awareness, and the other two tertiles were considered low awareness. RESULTS: A total of 4,623 questionnaires were included. Only 1,849 participants (40.0%) exhibited high awareness of CRC signs/symptoms. High awareness of CRC symptoms was associated with higher likelihood of showing positive attitudes toward colonoscopy (odds ratio [OR], 1.21 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.37]). A total of 1,840 participants (38.9%) demonstrated high awareness of CRC risk factors. Participants with high awareness of CRC risk factors were more likely to display positive attitudes toward colonoscopy (OR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.37]). Only 219 participants (4.7%) demonstrated high awareness of CRC causation myths. There was no association between awareness of CRC causation myths and positive attitudes toward colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: Awareness of CRC was poor with less than half of the study participants demonstrating high awareness of CRC signs/symptoms and risk factors, and a minority (<5%) displaying high awareness of CRC causation myths. High awareness of CRC signs/symptoms and risk factors was associated with greater likelihood of demonstrating positive attitudes toward colonoscopy. Educational initiatives are needed to address knowledge gaps and dispel misconceptions surrounding CRC.

Differences in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Between Vegetarians and Nonvegetarians: A National Cross-Sectional Study From Palestine.

PURPOSE: To compare colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness between vegetarians and nonvegetarians in Palestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The validated Bowel Cancer Awareness Measure and Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale were translated into Arabic and used to assess awareness of CRC signs/symptoms, risk factors, and mythical causes. The total awareness score of each domain was calculated and categorized into tertiles; the top tertile was considered as good awareness. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between being a vegetarian and displaying good awareness in each domain. RESULTS: This study included 4,623 participants: 560 vegetarians (12.1%) and 4,063 nonvegetarians (87.9%). Lump in the abdomen was the most recognized CRC sign/symptom among both nonvegetarians (n = 2,969, 73.1%) and vegetarians (n = 452, 80.7%). Vegetarians were less likely than nonvegetarians to display good awareness of CRC signs/symptoms (odds ratio, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.72]). Lack of physical activity was the most identified modifiable CRC risk factor in both nonvegetarians (n = 3,368, 82.9%) and vegetarians (n = 478, 85.4%). Similarly, having a bowel disease was the most identified nonmodifiable risk factor among both nonvegetarians (n = 2,889, 71.1%) and vegetarians (n = 431, 77.0%). There were no associated differences between both groups in the awareness levels of CRC risk factors. The most recognized food-related CRC causation myth in nonvegetarians was drinking from plastic bottles (n = 1,023, 25.2%), whereas it was eating burnt food in vegetarians (n = 176, 31.4%). Having a physical trauma was the most recognized food-unrelated myth in both nonvegetarians (n = 2,356, 58.0%) and vegetarians (n = 396, 70.7%). There were no associated differences in the awareness of CRC causation myths between both groups. CONCLUSION: Awareness of CRC was notably low in both Palestinian vegetarians and nonvegetarians. Particularly, vegetarians demonstrated lower awareness of CRC signs and symptoms.

Folliculin gene-negative Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome: a case report.

Introduction and importance: Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) is a rare genetic disorder that results from a mutation in the folliculin (FLCN) gene. Manifestations include pulmonary cysts, fibrofolliculomas, renal tumors, and pneumothoraces. Genetic testing can be used to confirm the diagnosis when suspected. BHD syndrome is diagnosed in patients with negative FLCN gene results using diagnostic criteria. Case presentation: A male in his 20s presented with recurrent pneumothoraces. A physical examination revealed bumps on his face and upper body. A chest computed tomography scan revealed cystic lesions. Blood tests, ESR, and CRP levels were unremarkable. Punch skin biopsy revealed fibrofolliculomas. Genetic testing for the FLCN mutation returned negative. His history, physical exam, imaging, and histopathology suggested BHD syndrome despite having a negative family history and genetic analysis. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with FLCN gene-negative BHD syndrome. Clinical discussion: More than a hundred families have been identified to have BHD worldwide. There are a few cases in the literature describing patients phenotypically presenting with BHD despite having a negative genetic analysis. One study in Japan found 16 out of 157 individuals having a clinical presentation of BHD with no mutations. Also, decreased expression of the FLCN mRNA may lead to BHD. Conclusion: BHD syndrome can present with a negative FLCN gene mutation; however, patients must meet the known diagnostic criteria such as criteria made by Menko et al., Gupta et al., and Schmidt et al. in order to have a diagnosis of BHD syndrome. Also, a qualitative decrease of FLCN with the absence of mutations may also lead to BHD.

Awareness of Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors in Palestine: Where Do We Stand?

PURPOSE: To assess the public awareness level of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk factors in Palestine and identify factors associated with the good awareness level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult Palestinians were recruited using convenience sampling from hospitals, primary health care centers, and public locations in 11 governorates. The recognition of 11 CRC risk factors was evaluated using a translated-into-Arabic version of the validated bowel cancer awareness measure. Participants were given one point for each correctly recognized risk factor. The awareness level was determined by the number of CRC risk factors recognized: poor (0-3), fair (4-7), and good awareness (8-11). RESULTS: A total of 4,877 participants, of 5,254 approached, completed the questionnaire (response rate = 92.3%). The final analysis included 4,623 questionnaires, 2,700 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ) and 1,923 from the Gaza Strip. Participants from the WBJ were older, gained higher monthly income, and had more chronic diseases than participants from the Gaza Strip. The most recognized modifiable CRC risk factor was not doing 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week (n = 3,846, 83.2%), whereas the least recognized was having a diet low in fiber (n = 1,985, 42.9%). The most recognized nonmodifiable CRC risk factor was having a bowel disease (n = 3,320, 71.8%), whereas the least recognized was having diabetes (n = 1,581, 34.2%). Only 1,840 participants (39.8%) demonstrated good awareness of CRC risk factors. Participants from the Gaza Strip were more likely than participants from the WBJ to have good awareness (46.5.0% v 35.0%). Female sex, knowing someone with cancer, and completing postsecondary education were all associated with good awareness. CONCLUSION: Awareness of CRC risk factors was found to be low in Palestine. There is a substantial need to raise awareness of CRC risk factors through educational campaigns and programs.