Colorectal cancer

Recently, malignant tumors of the colon and rectum are usually combined into one group, which is called colorectal cancer. It develops from abnormal cells in the large intestine that become cancerous and divide uncontrollably. If the tumor is not detected and treated early, it can spread to nearby tissues and organs, as well as metastasize to distant parts of the body.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. It accounts for 10% of all cancers. In addition, colorectal cancers are the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The disease predominantly affects the elderly: most cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in patients aged 50 and older.

Currently, an active search is underway for new, more effective and safe methods of antitumor therapy, and vaccine therapy is one of the most promising areas in this area.

In this article, the medical authors of the MedTour platform have collected all the most up-to-date information about the symptoms, causes, types and stages of colorectal cancer, as well as innovative methods of treating this dangerous cancer.

Causes of colorectal cancer

The main cause of colorectal cancer is a mutation in the DNA of cells in the colon or rectum. It leads to uncontrolled division and growth of cells, resulting in the formation of a tumor. The exact causes of oncogenic mutations are unknown, but certain factors increase the risk of developing this disease.

There is evidence that colorectal cancer is more common in people with inflammatory bowel disease (conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

Risk factors also include smoking, alcohol abuse, a sedentary lifestyle, a diet high in fat and deficient in fiber.

About 20% of patients with colorectal cancer have a family history of the following hereditary diseases:

• familial adenomatous polyposis, which leads to the formation of multiple polyps in the colon;
• Gardner’s syndrome – a disease characterized by a combination of colon polyposis and the formation of multiple tumors of bones and soft tissues;
• Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition that increases the chance of developing many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer.

Age is another risk factor: colorectal cancer is diagnosed predominantly in older people.

Symptoms of a neoplasm of the large intestine: how to recognize colorectal cancer at an early stage

The most common symptoms of the disease are:

• feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine;
• rectal bleeding or blood in the feces;
• thin ribbon-like feces;
• frequent constipation or diarrhea;
• abdominal pain, bloating, cramps;
• unexplained weight loss;
• chronic fatigue;
• nausea or vomiting;
• changes in bowel function.

Recognizing colorectal cancer at an early stage is not easy, because it often does not manifest itself in any way until the tumor reaches a large size and begins to spread to other tissues and organs. Nevertheless, there are ways that help to detect the disease in a timely manner:

• Screening for colorectal cancer. Regular examinations by a doctor allow a person to identify suspicious neoplasms in the intestines in time and start treatment in a timely manner. Screening includes colonoscopy and fecal occult blood testing.
• Attentive attitude to your health. Knowing the symptoms of colorectal cancer helps to recognize the disease at an early stage. Signs that patients should look out for first include: blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, anemia (low hemoglobin in the blood).

The symptoms listed above do not necessarily indicate the development of colorectal cancer. They are also characteristic of other diseases of the digestive tract. However, they cannot be ignored. Call or write to us, and our medical coordinators of MedTour will select for you the best diagnostic clinic and an experienced specialist for free.

What is the nature of pain in colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer rarely causes pain in its early stages. As the disease progresses, patients may complain of pain in the abdomen, liver, bones, and other parts of the body where the malignant process has spread. If the tumor presses on a nerve, a person may have back pain.

Types of colorectal cancer

More than 95% of all colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas of the colon or rectum. They are formed in glandular cells that secrete mucus. Other, less common types are:

• carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract;
• primary colorectal lymphomas;
• gastrointestinal stromal tumors;
• leiomyosarcomas.

There are also primary (newly formed) and secondary (spread from other parts of the body) cancer. Recurrent tumors are those that continue to grow and metastasize after treatment.

Colorectal cancer stages

The colorectal cancer staging system has a complex structure, but in general it follows a simplified scheme:

• Local spread (I and II stages). The tumor is small and may invade surrounding tissues. There are no signs of cancer spread outside the colon or rectum. 39% of diagnosed tumors are local.
• Regional spread (stage III). Cancer cells are found in nearby lymph nodes. At this stage, colorectal cancer is diagnosed in 35% of cases.
• Distant metastasis (stage IV). There are metastases in the liver, lungs or other organs. In 22% of patients, cancer is detected at a late stage.

Staging of rectal cancer is crucial in choosing therapeutic tactics and determining the prognosis of the disease.

Diagnosis of colorectal cancer

In most cases, a comprehensive diagnostic examination for the detection of intestinal tumors includes:

• digital rectal examination;
• general blood analysis;
• blood chemistry;
• tests for tumor markers: cancer embryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9);
• the fecal occult blood test (FOBT);
• irrigoscopy (X-ray of the intestine with a barium enema);
• colonoscopy (endoscopic visualization of the walls of the colon and rectum);
• biopsy (taking a tumor sample for histological analysis);
• diagnostic imaging tests (ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET).

Accurate diagnosis is essential for an effective treatment plan. Call or email us to find a clinic that has modern equipment and experienced specialists for high-quality colorectal cancer diagnostics.

Colorectal cancer surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for early stage colorectal cancer. The choice of the type of operation depends on the stage of cancer, its localization and the purpose of the surgical intervention.

Minimally invasive surgeries

At an early stage, the tumor can be removed during a colonoscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require large incisions. Precancerous polyps are removed with a wire loop by cutting them off the colon wall while coagulating (sealing) the blood vessels to reduce bleeding. Local excision of cancerous tumors at stage I is a more complicated procedure. The neoplasm is removed using microsurgical instruments along with a small amount of healthy tissue.

Colectomy

A colectomy is an operation that involves partial or complete removal of the large intestine. As a rule, regional lymph nodes are also removed at the same time. Colectomy is performed in two ways:

• Open surgery. Access to the surgical field is through one large incision in the abdominal wall.
• Laparoscopic surgery. To remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, a surgeon makes several small incisions (punctures) in the abdominal wall, through which a laparoscope and miniature surgical instruments are inserted. The laparoscope is a long flexible tube equipped with a light source and a microvideo camera. A doctor can follow the ongoing actions on the screen of a computer monitor.

Laparoscopic operations are less traumatic, so patients recover from them faster. However, they are not always possible. Sometimes, to remove the tumor completely, a surgeon needs an open approach.

Stenting and colostomy

In advanced stages, a large tumor can block the intestinal lumen. In this case, the doctor may recommend the placement of a stent, which expands the walls of the intestine and holds them in the correct position.

For advanced colorectal cancer, part of the bowel may need to be removed. The operation is similar to a standard colectomy, only in this case, the parts of the colon are not connected. Instead, one of its ends is brought to the abdominal wall, where a colostomy is formed – an opening for the evacuation of feces. Patients with a colostomy must wear a colostomy bag, a special sealed bag for digestive waste.

Colorectal cancer treatment

To minimize the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence, complex therapy is carried out, which includes not only surgery, but also other methods of antitumor treatment. These include:

• chemotherapy;
• radiation therapy;
• immunotherapy;
• targeted therapy.

The choice of treatment method depends on the type and stage of cancer, as well as on the purpose of the treatment. For example, chemotherapy before surgery can help shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove. After surgery, it is performed to destroy cancer cells that may have remained in the patient’s body after surgery.

Cancer vaccines for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Vaccine therapy is one of the most promising and rapidly developing areas in oncology. Currently, the world’s leading cancer centers are actively developing cancer vaccines, the treatment of which helps to significantly improve the results of standard therapy and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

MedTour strives to make innovative treatments more accessible to patients. We currently offer treatment for colorectal cancer with two types of Cancerax cancer vaccines. They have a similar principle of operation. Once ingested, the active ingredients of the drug “teach” the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

• Autovaccine. It is made from the patient’s tumor material after removal of the malignant neoplasm. To enhance the immune response, tumor proteins are biotransformed under the influence of the cytotoxic lectin B. subtilis B-7025. The autovaccine is suitable for patients who have recently had surgery to remove a bowel tumor and want to improve the results of standard treatment.
• Xenovaccine. The composition of this drug includes embryonic proteins of animal origin, which are similar in structure to tumor antigens. They are also processed with a cytotoxic lectin to enhance the immune system response. The use of xenovaccines is suitable for patients who have had a tumor removal operation for a long time and wish to protect themselves from the risk of a recurrence of the malignant process.

At the moment, vaccine therapy is carried out only in combination with standard treatment after consultation with a doctor. It is an adjuvant method of anticancer therapy that has been proven effective in clinical trials.

To learn more about the innovative method of cancer treatment with vaccines, contact the MedTour coordinating doctor in any way convenient for you.

Colorectal cancer – prognosis

The prognosis for colorectal cancer depends on many factors, the main one is the stage of the cancer. At an early stage, when the tumor is limited to the mucous membrane or the intestinal wall, the prognosis is usually very favorable. In this case, the chances of a full recovery are quite high.

If the neoplasm is found at later stages, when cancer cells have spread to regional lymph nodes or surrounding tissues, the prognosis is less encouraging. The spread of the tumor makes it difficult to completely remove it surgically, which negatively affects the success of treatment.

What is the life expectancy for colorectal cancer?

The overall five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 64.4%, for rectal cancer – 67%. As mentioned above, this indicator largely depends on the stage of the malignant process:

• I and II stages – 89.9%;
• III stage – 71.3%;
• IV stage – 14.2%.

Timely detection and qualified treatment are the key to a successful cure for colorectal cancer.

The best clinics for colorectal cancer treatment

The MedTour platform cooperates with the best oncology centers specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant intestinal tumors. These are medical centers that have modern equipment and have access to innovative methods of therapy. Get a free consultation with a MedTour medical coordinator to learn about the best colorectal cancer treatment options available.

The best doctors for colorectal cancer treatment

The MedTour platform contains information about leading doctors who specialize in the treatment of oncological diseases of the digestive system and have achieved significant success in this area. Contact us in any way convenient for you, and we will help you choose a specialist that best suits your personal needs and wishes.

Published: 07.08.2023

Updated: 10.08.2023

Medical author, Medical editor:

Olena Kursabaieva

Medical author, Medical editor:

Natalia Segen