Colorectal Cancer Defined : Treatments and Research

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 3 of 5)

Planning Treatment

If tests show that you have cancer, you should talk with your doctor and make treatment decisions as soon as possible. Studies show that early treatment leads to better outcomes.

A team of specialists often treats people with cancer. The team will keep the primary doctor informed about the patient's progress. The team may include a medical oncologist who is a specialist in cancer treatment, a surgeon, a radiation oncologist who is a specialist in radiation therapy, and others.

Before starting treatment, you may want another doctor to review the diagnosis and treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion. Others may pay for a second opinion if you request it.

Some colorectal cancer patients take part in studies of new treatments. These studies, called clinical trials, are designed to find out whether a new treatment is safe and effective.

What is a Clinical Trial? Often, clinical trials compare a new treatment with a standard one so that doctors can learn which is more effective. People with colorectal cancer who are interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor.

Quiz

1. People with colorectal cancer are often treated by only their primary doctor.

FALSE is the correct answer. People with cancer often are treated by a team of specialists, who keep the primary doctor informed. They may include a medical oncologist who is a specialist in cancer treatment, a surgeon, a radiation oncologist who is a specialist in radiation therapy, and others.

2. Doctors sometimes recommend that you get a second opinion if you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

TRUE is the correct answer. Before starting treatment, you may want another doctor to review the diagnosis and treatment plan.

3. The purpose of a clinical trial is to determine if a new treatment will be safe and effective.

TRUE is the correct answer. Clinical trials are research studies in which new treatments such as drugs, diagnostics, procedures, vaccines, and other therapies are tested in people to see if they are safe and effective.

4. Clinical trials primarily compare older versus newer treatments.

TRUE is the correct answer. Clinical trials primarily compare a new treatment with a standard one so that doctors can learn which is more effective.

What is Staging?

If the diagnosis is cancer, the doctor needs to learn the stage - or extent - of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. More tests may be performed to help determine the stage. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Here are the stages of colorectal cancer:

Stage 0 - The cancer is very early and is found only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.

Stage I - The cancer involves more of the inner wall of the colon or rectum.

Here are the stages of colorectal cancer:

Stage II - The cancer has spread outside the colon or rectum to nearby tissue, but not to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the body's immune system.

Here are the stages of colorectal cancer:

Stage III - The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but not to other parts of the body.

Stage IV - The cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Colorectal cancer tends to spread to the liver and/or lungs.

Here are the stages of colorectal cancer:

Recurrent - Recurrent cancer means the cancer has come back after treatment. The disease may recur in the colon or rectum or in another part of the body.

Most patients with stage 0, I, II, or III cancers can undergo treatment with the hope of a cure. Colorectal cancer rarely occurs again after 5 years, so most patients who live 5 years are considered cured. Most stage IV cancers cannot be cured, although treatment may be available to help extend life.

Quiz

1. Staging is a term that means finding out how far cancer has progressed.

TRUE is the correct answer. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. More tests may be performed to help determine the stage. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

2. Most patients with stage 0, I, II, or III colorectal cancer have very little chance of a cure.

FALSE is the correct answer. Most patients with stage 0, I, II, or III colorectal cancer can undergo treatment with the hope of a cure. Colorectal cancer rarely occurs again after 5 years, so most patients who live 5 years after treatment are considered cured.

3. If colorectal cancer spreads, or metastasizes, to other organs in the body, it often spreads to the liver or lungs.

TRUE is the correct answer. If colorectal cancer does spread to other organs of the body, it tends to spread to the liver and/or lungs. Patients whose cancer has spread to organs of the body beyond the colon or rectum have stage IV colorectal cancer.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.