Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is cancer of the colon or rectum. Most types of colorectal cancer begin with polyps (grape-shaped growths on the lining of the colon and rectum). Removing a polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer. Polyps are very common in people older than 50 years of age and usually are benign (not cancerous), but some polyps can slowly develop over the years into cancer.

Treatments for Colorectal Cancer and Procedures

The colorectal cancer treatment, also called the colon cancer treatment, depends on the diagnosis results and the types and stage of the cancer. The diagnosis procedures of rectal cancer are digital rectal exam (DRE), fecal occult blood testing, colonoscopy, CT scans, MRIs, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and sigmoidoscopy. After the confirmation of the rectal cancer in diagnosis, the clinical stage is started by the doctors. Patients in the stage of ii and iii are treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy . Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. During surgery, the tumor, a small margin of the surrounding healthy bowel, and adjacent lymph nodes are removed. The surgeon then reconnects the healthy sections of the bowel. In patients with rectal cancer, the rectum is permanently removed. The surgeon then creates an opening (colostomy) on the abdomen wall through which solid waste in the colon is excreted. Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells. It is a systemic therapy, meaning that the medication travels throughout the body to destroy cancer cells. After colon cancer surgery, some patients may harbor microscopic metastasis (small foci of cancer cells that cannot be detected). Chemotherapy is given shortly after surgery to destroy these microscopic cells. Chemotherapy given in this manner is called adjuvant chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy in colorectal cancer has been limited to treating cancer of the rectum. There is a decreased local recurrence of rectal cancer in patients receiving radiation either prior to or after surgery. Other treatments have included the use of localized infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the liver, the most common site of metastasis. This involves the insertion of a pump into the blood suppl y of the liver which can deliver high doses of medicine directly to the liver tumor. Still other experimental agents include the use of photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, a light sensitive agent is taken up by the tumor which can then be activated to cause tumor destruction. A new kind of treatment is in place and it is called the monoclonal antibodies. These molecules block a receptor for a growth factor, situated on the cancerous cells. Other can act on the tumor vascular development by blocking the receptor for the vascular growth factor. This is a development with the molecular oncology department taking its research to new dimensions for curing cancer.

Technology Used for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Apart from surgery and chemotherapy, the new age technology used to treat cancer include Radiology and Radiation Oncology, which are advanced imaging technology that can be used to detect cancer. Technologies for detection of cancer: Computerized Tomography (CT) Nuclear Medicine MRI Ultrasound PET Fusion

New cutting-edge equipments include the CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery, which are at the cutting edge of this technology both offering pain-free non-invasive treatment with far greater accuracy and speed. Other leading edge treatment technologies available include: Robotic Surgical System Trilogy Image Guided Radiation Therapy System (IGRT) Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy System (IMRT)

Achievements Experts
The oncology clinic is comprised of physicians dedicated to treating colorectal cancer and metastases to the system with the latest technology. Because our physicians are specialists in molecular oncology, hematology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology and colorectal cancer treatment, you can rest assured you're receiving the best care available. We work with specialists in other areas of care when necessary to give you a comprehensive approach to treatment of colorectal cancer. OMEGA offers the latest and most advanced cancer treatments in India.

Apart from doctors, we have radiologists who specialize in Imaging, Neuroradiology, PET CT, Abdominal Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Musculoskeletal Imaging We are uniquely positioned to make the tremendous power of these technologies work towards giving you the best cancer treatment.