Overview
Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum, usually from a polyp that slowly becomes cancerous over years. Screening colonoscopy can find and remove polyps early. Once diagnosed, treatment depends on stage and, for rectal cancer, how close the tumour is to the anal sphincter.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer
- Change in bowel habit lasting more than a few weeks
- Blood in the stool, or black tarry stools
- Persistent abdominal pain, cramps or bloating
- Feeling the bowel does not empty completely
- Unexplained anaemia, weight loss or fatigue
Risk factors
- Age over 50; family history or Lynch syndrome / FAP
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s)
- Diet high in red and processed meat, low in fibre
- Obesity, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity
Diagnosis
Colonoscopy with biopsy confirms the diagnosis. CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis (and MRI of the pelvis for rectal cancer) stages the disease. Tumour tissue is tested for RAS/BRAF mutations and mismatch-repair (MSI) status to guide targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Treatment at Shichim Oncocare
Surgery is the main treatment for localised disease, with chemotherapy before or after depending on stage, and chemoradiation for rectal cancer. Advanced disease is treated with chemotherapy combinations, anti-EGFR or anti-VEGF targeted antibodies, and immunotherapy for MSI-high tumours. Shichim Oncocare delivers these regimens as day-care infusions, including take-home pump chemotherapy where used.