Here's a quiz for you. What do the old Central School and some bowels have in common? Read on to discover.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of death due to cancer in the world. It's the third most common behind breast and lung cancer in women; and prostate and lung cancer in men.

In Bermuda the incidence is high. Although no statistics are available, one local doctor estimated that on average there's one surgery done a week in relation to the disease.

As its name suggests, colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon – the large intestine or the rectum. Gastroenterologists are the medical specialists for digestive tract issues. They look at problems in the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, pancreas, gall bladder and liver.

Bermudian-born gastroenterologist Victor Scott is the son of former headmaster Victor Scott.

The junior Scott left Bermuda in 1962 to study medicine and never returned home to live.

He practised for decades at Howard University College of Medicine, heading the internal medicine department and eventually working as a hospital administrator.

He retired two years ago.

In an interview with Body & Soul last week, he said he's treated many cases of colorectal cancer.

He said the disease is on the rise globally with a million new cases expected to be diagnosed each year.

Body & Soul asked if the disease is more prevalent in any particular group.

"It does appear to be more common in the west," he said. "There is the belief that this is associated to our western diet which features more fats and red meats."

He said some research has shown that the disease occurs earlier in African American males. Despite this, Dr. Scott said he wouldn't assume the same to be true for black Bermudian males.

But there is good news with this type of cancer – it is preventable with early screening.

According to Dr. Scott, the disease occurs with a benign polyp. If you screen early and are able to detect the polyp or polyps, they can be removed before they become cancerous. This is a simple yet effective way of avoiding the disease.

Dr. Scott also noted that colorectal cancer progresses slowly. If caught early in the cancerous stage the prognosis can still be very good.

He said operations done to remove the tumour when it is on the surface of the lining of the bowel, yield a 98 percent survival rate. If a patient waits until the tumour has penetrated the intestinal wall, the survival rate drops significantly – to 42 percent.

And he said once it gets through to the wall of the intestine and spreads to the lymph nodes, it tends to spread more quickly through the body.

Early screening and detection can make a huge difference. Dr. Scott will deliver that message at a free forum organised by medical practitioners at CedarBridge Academy on Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It's his suggestion that all males are first screened at 50 and if the bowel looks clear, every ten years after that. In cases where a person has had a close relative die from colorectal cancer, its better to screen sooner.

According to Dr. Scott, persons should be screened when they're ten years younger than the age at which their loved one died. In other words, if the loved one died at 55, the living relative should be screened at 45.

Dr. Scott is one of four physicians taking part in Saturday's cancer forum. The forum has been organised by the Bermuda Cancer Center, The Bermuda Hospitals Board, The Ministry of Health, PALS, Reach to Recovery and Friends of Hospice.