Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Advanced Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment in Dubai

Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Dubai

Also known as colon cancer, colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in a person’s colon (large intestine) or rectum. The condition occurs when the cells that line the colon or the rectum become abnormal and grow out of control. Regular colorectal cancer screenings are crucial since symptoms frequently do not manifest until the cancer has spread.

Causes of Colorectal Cancer

There is no exact known cause for colon cancer. Genetic changes that can either be inherited or acquired may lead to cancer. Although these mutations increase the risk, it’s not a guarantee that one will develop colon cancer.

The lining of the colon may develop polyps because of accumulation of abnormal cells. These are tiny, harmless growths. But if left untreated polyps can develop into cancer. Surgery to remove these growths may be an effective preventive approach.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

There is a chance that an individual may not present any symptoms at all of the colon cancer, particularly at the beginning. If one experiences symptoms, they will frequently be found in phases 0 through 2 and they may include:

• Bleeding from the rectum
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Changes in stool form, such as a narrower stool.
• Changes in stool color
• Excessive gas
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain

Stages of Colorectal Cancer

• Stage 0: Also known as carcinoma in situ, in this stage only the inner lining of the colon or rectum contains abnormal cells.
• Stage 1: In this stage, the lining of the colon or rectum has been infiltrated by cancer, which may also have spread into the muscular layer. However, it hasn’t spread to the body’s other organs or the lymph nodes nearby.
• Stage 2: Here, the lymph nodes are unaffected, but the cancer has migrated to the walls of the colon or rectum through the walls of surrounding tissues.
• Stage 3: Cancer has infiltrated the lymph nodes but has not spread to other parts of the body.
• Stage 4: At this stage, other organs in the body like the liver or lungs have been affected by the cancer.

Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

To make a definitive diagnosis of colorectal cancer, the doctor may order the following tests as part of the diagnosis process.

• Blood tests such as complete blood count, tumor markers, and enzymes
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, ultrasounds, and angiography.
• Biopsy
• Diagnostic colonoscopy: This is normally done after symptoms present
• Proctoscopy

Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

Cancer severity is determined by staging. Colorectal cancer is treated based on the stage of the cancer. The treatment options include:

Surgery: This is done to remove the abnormal cells as well as a small section of the surrounding healthy tissues.

Chemotherapy: These are a combination of drugs that kill cancer cells and are usually administered through intravenous IV or orally as a pill. Each of these drugs targets a particular type of cancer and is administered in accordance with set dosages and timings. This therapy may be recommended for advanced colorectal cancers, where cancer cells have spread to other organs or lymph nodes.

Radiation: Radiation therapy is a procedure that involves the use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is normally performed by a radiation oncologist, a doctor specially trained in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer.

Immunotherapy: This is a more recent type of treatment for colorectal cancer. The primary objective of this treatment is to boost the patient’s immune reaction to cancer cells to aid in fighting the disease more effectively. There are two types of immunotherapies:

• Active immunotherapy: The goal of active immunotherapy is to boost the patient’s immune system.
• Passive immunotherapy: Passive immunotherapy is made in laboratories to replicate the body’s antibodies. They are man-made antibodies that target specific components on the colorectal cancer cells to help stop cancer cells from evading the body’s built-in immune system.