2024-04-29 23:30:00
The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing. Adjuvant treatment before and following surgery can help increase the survival rate.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) annually designates the month of March as “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.” The Hong Kong Medical Alliance and Union Cancer Center jointly organize the “Theme Conference on Colorectal Cancer Treatment and New Health Advances” for health-conscious people. citizens and bowel cancer patients to provide the latest information to fight bowel cancer together.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Hong Kong, accounting for 15.3% of the total new cancer cases in 2021, with a total of 5,899 cases. It has been on an upward trend for 39 years and has attracted everyone’s attention. The people who attended the conference that day were very enthusiastic and listened carefully to the explanations of the guest speaker, Dr. Yang Shanru, a clinical oncology specialist.
Dr. Yang Shanru, specialist in clinical oncology
Dr. Yang Shanru pointed out at the conference that regarding 75% of colorectal cancers have no obvious cause. However, obesity, smoking and increased consumption of alcohol and meat are considered the reasons for increased cancer incidence and mortality in many Asians. countries.
Colorectal cancer is cancer that originates from the colon or rectum. It is mainly caused by an abnormal growth of tissue (called polyps) in the colon or rectum, said Early colorectal cancer may not have obvious symptoms, leading to a low rate of cancer. detection rate, exceeding 50% of cases were already at stage 3 to 4 at the time of diagnosis, with symptoms such as blood/black/mucus in stools, persistent discomfort in the lower abdomen (bloating and abdominal cramps) , a feeling of fatigue and weakness, etc. At present, cancer cells have metastasized, the chance of cure is low, and the 5-year survival rate of stage 4 patients is only 9.3%.
In terms of treatment, tumor resection is performed at all stages 0 to 3 with the aim of radical cure. Some patients with stage 2 to 3 colorectal cancer require postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. For patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer, the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone can reduce the risk of death by 10% to 15%; the use of a combination treatment containing oxaliplatin can further reduce the risk of death by 4%; at 5%. For patients with low-risk stage 3 colorectal cancer, 3 months of combined capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) chemotherapy has similar efficacy to 6 months of treatment. In addition, preoperative adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy (electrotherapy) and chemotherapy) for high-risk rectal cancer can also help improve survival and disease control rates.
As for metastatic colorectal cancer, if it spreads on a large scale, local treatments such as surgery or electrotherapy no longer provide a radical cure. Doctors must use drugs to travel through the blood and reach different parts of the body to eliminate cancer cells. include targeted drugs, chemotherapy drugs and immunotherapy.
Supplement nutrition before treatment
Many cancer patients are intimidated by the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth sores, etc., and at least a third of patients experience weight loss due to malnutrition. Dr. Yang Shanru recommends that patients supplement their nutrition before treatment and increase their daily protein and energy intake.
Colorectal cancer is a lifestyle-related cancer. Dr. Yang Shanru advises patients to reduce the risk of recurrence by making changes to their daily lives, such as eating more vegetables and fruits to increase their dietary fiber intake, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and drinking, and reducing their consumption. processed meats, etc. Even if you don’t have cancer, it’s also a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, regular fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopy can detect and treat bowel cancer at an early stage. Immediately following the question and answer session explained by Dr. Yang, the conference ended successfully. Participants all expressed that they had a deeper understanding of bowel cancer.
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