Our Conversations Webinar Series is an opportunity to link national experts in colorectal cancer and other related fields to you, right in the comfort of your own home. The programs are designed to empower you to play a leading role in your healthcare management.
Last month, we hosted Latest in CRC: Findings from the 2016 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium where Medical Advisor and Senior Patient Advocate Dr. Laura Porter gave us a recap of the latest trending information coming out of January’s 2016 symposium.
Couldn’t make the webinar? Get our Top 5 Takeaways and watch the replay for updates on treatment, research, patient care and more!
Top 5 Takeaways
1. The incidence of colorectal cancer in the United States is decreasing overall.
- This decrease is attributed to successful screening, although only 65 percent of people eligible for screening get screened
- While the overall decrease is 3.4 percent per year (a 3.9 percent decrease per year in people over age 50), there’s an increase of 1.1 percent per year in people under age 50
2. All patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer need to be tested for Lynch Syndrome.
- New treatments are available for those who are MSI-high, which is characteristic of Lynch Syndrome
- 30 percent of the genetic mutations in Lynch Syndrome are still not known
2. There’s a current shift in rectal cancer treatment.
- Clinical trials are looking at the possibility that all patients may not need surgery, and/or chemotherapy, and/or radiation and/or chemoradiation
- If a person responds to chemotherapy they may not need surgery, if there is a complete response to chemoradiation they may not need chemotherapy—this depends on the sequence of treatment and the individual’s response to the treatment
4. More treatment options are coming for metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Clinical trials are available even for heavily treated people with metastatic colorectal cancer
- FDA-approved therapies in other cancers are being looked at for metastatic colorectal cancer
5. A multidisciplinary team is important for all patients.
- This team Includes radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgeons and others
- A multidisciplinary team can provide greater diagnostic and staging accuracy because treatments are selected by a group of experts instead of one doctor
Don’t forget, the Colon Cancer Alliance serves as a source of information about colon health. If you have additional questions about colon cancer screening or are in need of support, please contact our free Helpline at (877) 422-2030. We’re here to help.