An essential move in this stage is selecting the right drug for the right patient, says oncologist.
An essential move in this stage is selecting the right drug for the right patient, says oncologist.
For any patient, the diagnosis of colon cancer in Stage 4 evokes a multitude of emotions including fear of impending death, fear of complications arising from treatment, and fear of permanent disability with colostomy.
Let us understand the common scenarios faced in day-to-day clinical practice. To begin with, Stage 4 colon cancer means the cancer of the large intestine, which has spread to distant sites such as the liver or lungs. Usually, if the disease has spread to the whole body, systemic therapy is recommended as the treatment.
However, surgical care can be sought in special cases with a single operable mass in the liver, if found feasible by the specialist oncosurgeon. Usually, systemic therapy for colon cancer in Stage 4 uses a combination of chemotherapy drugs given as intravenous infusion over a period of three days and repeated fortnightly. And, these are called FOLFOX or FOLFIRI regimens.
In addition, as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, use of targeted therapy or biological agents called Cetuximab or Bevacizumab may be used depending upon the presence or absence of mutations in the tumor cells. An oncologist would be the right person to be consulted for this treatment planning and understanding the therapy options. Another miracle drug is immunotherapy, which works well in patients who harbor an abnormality in their tumor cells called Microsatellite Instability (MSI).
An oncologist helps the patient to understand the treatment options in Stage-4 colon cancer, get the specialized mutation markers on the tumor cells, plan therapies as per efficacy and tolerability of the patient and administer them in specialized treatment centers. The most essential move in this stage is selecting the right drug for the right patient.
This article has been written by Dr.Amit Dilip Bhatt, MD, DNB, FMO, ECMO, Ms Mol Onco, Director, Avinash Cancer Clinic & Dr. Lata Bhatt Cancer Centre, Consultant Medical Oncology, Poona/Jehangir/Joshi/ONP Prime/MJM/Sanjeevan/Lakshya.
You can prevent CRC by being physically active, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limiting the intake of alcohol.
The number of CRC-related deaths is estimated to be approximately 6,08,000 worldwide, accounting for 8% of all cancer deaths.
The symptoms include blood in stool, abdominal pain, and/or a change in bowel habits.
With biomarker testing and personalized treatment methods, there is more hope for patients today, says oncologist.
In this form of cancer, the cells in the colon or rectum divide uncontrollably, producing a tumour.
A diet high in fibre and low in red and processed meat further helps in reducing the risk.
In the advanced stages, targeted therapy and immunotherapy significantly help in improving survival rates.
According to oncologist, fatigue or bleeding in the stool can be indicative of colorectal cancer.
Expert blames alcoholism, smoking, red meat consumption, and obesity for rising incidence.
In the last two decades, the survival rates in stage IV/mCRC have almost doubled due to evolutions in treatment, says oncologist.
Oncologist recommends early screening programs for those at a greater risk.
Regular exercise and consumption of fruits and vegetables help lower the risk of getting the disease.
An essential move in this stage is selecting the right drug for the right patient, says oncologist.
As per oncologist, these include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Due to a large number of effective therapies, colorectal cancer is thought of as a solvable problem by the oncology community.
Oncologist recommends genetic screening or screening by colonoscopy for early detection of the disease.
Changing lifestyles and associated dietary habits have resulted in more number of people being diagnosed with the disease at an earlier age.
As per international guidelines, people above 50 years of age should be screened through stool examination and colonoscopy.
Common signs include a change in bowel habits lasting for more than 4 weeks and persistent abdominal cramps.
The incidence of colon cancer rises with age, so anybody above 50 years of age should be screened for it, says oncologist.
Expert emphasizes the need for more screening programs among high-risk groups.
Talk to an oncologist about various screening tests so that the disease can be detected even before the symptoms develop.
Colorectal cancer—in which the cells in the colon or rectum become abnormal and divide uncontrollably, forming a tumor—is the third most common cancer in the world.
Colorectal cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the country and is caused due to poor lifestyle habits such as drinking or smoking.
Colorectal cancer is one of the top five cancers in our country, and is prevalent among both males and females.
Lack of physical activity, smoking, and consumption of alcohol increase the chances of developing the disease, says leading oncologist.
Common risk factors include advancing age, positive family history, and consumption of tobacco or alcohol.
