Colorectal cancer, surgery, and cancer treatment at the same time reduce recurrence rate by 35%
Sep 03, 2024
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Cancer treatment is based on surgical surgery that physically removes the site of occurrence. Early-detected low-stage patients sometimes terminate treatment by surgery, but stage 2 or stage 3 patients with a high risk of recurrence must be combined with adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery to lower the recurrence rate.
These postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is usually performed for six months, and in particular, in the case of rectal cancer, simultaneous chemotherapy-radiation therapy is first performed to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery. On the other hand, palliative chemotherapy is performed when colon cancer has already progressed considerably or has spread to other organs and surgery for the purpose of cure is difficult. In this case, the main purpose of treatment is to relieve symptoms and extend survival period due to cancer metastasis.
Cytotoxic chemical anticancer drugs and targeted anticancer drugs are used for chemotherapy. Cytotoxic chemical anticancer drugs use the characteristics of rapidly multiplying cancer cells to kill cancer cells. Usually, combination chemotherapy using drugs with different mechanisms of action is applied to increase the therapeutic effect and suppress cross-resistance. Targeted anticancer drugs act in a way that blocks specific proteins to delay the production of blood vessels needed for cancer growth and metastasis. In the case of palliative chemotherapy used in metastatic colorectal cancer, the use of cytotoxic anticancer drugs and target anticancer drugs together has a synergistic effect.
Choi Jeong-yoon, a professor of hematologic oncology at Korea University Ansan Hospital, said "Even if cancer is completely removed by surgery, chemotherapy is essential to remove invisible microcancer cells. This can reduce the recurrence rate and mortality rate by 35% and 24%, respectively, and even metastatic cancer patients who cannot operate can expect an increase in survival rate and an improvement in quality of life by controlling symptoms if chemotherapy for palliative purposes is performed. In addition, some patients were unable to operate at diagnosis, but they may be expected to be cured by changing to an operable state through chemotherapy that reduces the size of the cancer", emphasizing the need for chemotherapy.
Of course, chemotherapy has side effects. This is why many patients hesitate to take chemotherapy. In the case of cytotoxic chemical anticancer drug treatment, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet (endothelial neuropathy) and hemocytopenia are present, and when cetuximab (epithelial cell growth factor receptor inhibitor), a target anticancer drug, is administered, side effects such as high blood pressure and proteinuria may occur depending on acne-like skin reactions and the administration of abastin (angiogenic inhibitors). In this case, medications to relieve symptoms or control the dose of anticancer drugs are administered through consultation with the medical staff in charge. In addition, you should be familiar with how to manage side effects and practice them in your daily life.
Professor Choi said "In order to receive good anti-cancer treatment, physical strength is essential. Maintain proper exercise and healthy eating habits, and stop drinking and smoking. It is necessary to manage the dietary environment hygienically to prevent infection, as there may be a point where immunity decreases when receiving chemotherapy. In particular, herbal medicines, pills, sweetened water, boiled juice, concentrate, etc. are burdensome to liver or kidney function and should be avoided" he advised.
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