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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Colorectal Cancer Be Further Treated?

I am 55 & diagnoses with colorectal cancer in December 2010 (sigmoid by pathology, but surgeon called it rectal). I was stopped after 7 cycles of FOLFOX 7 (neutropenia, fever, anemia). I only received 3 weeks of 5FU during radiation, because of severe diarrhea. I was put on medrol dose pack on June 3 (when radiation stopped), but continue with severe diarrhea, weight loss, and severe abdominal pain and cramping ( despite GI muscle relaxants). What can I do?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Tue, 12 May 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 12 May 2015 Last reviewed on
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

Colon is another name of large bowel and rectum is terminal end of colon. Therefore colon and rectal cancer is dealt similarly and called colorectal cancer. Surgery is the first treatment choice depending on the disease location and spread. For cancer that is limited to the affected are in large bowel then surgery is first done. After this chemotherapy and radiation therapy is advised. Some people might develop adverse effect to cancer medicine and then other agents can be used.

Colorectal cancer patients must follow up with their doctors regularly and you must also do that. About half the patients of colorectal cancer might develop lesions in liver, lungs, abdomen and brain. Therefore getting ultrasound scan abdomen and CT scan is most important for you as recommended by your doctor. There is also a serum blood marker called CEA and this tells the chance of spread to liver if it increases in amount. This can be known through a simple blood test. Please do not worry.
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How Can Colorectal Cancer Be Further Treated?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. Colon is another name of large bowel and rectum is terminal end of colon. Therefore colon and rectal cancer is dealt similarly and called colorectal cancer. Surgery is the first treatment choice depending on the disease location and spread. For cancer that is limited to the affected are in large bowel then surgery is first done. After this chemotherapy and radiation therapy is advised. Some people might develop adverse effect to cancer medicine and then other agents can be used. Colorectal cancer patients must follow up with their doctors regularly and you must also do that. About half the patients of colorectal cancer might develop lesions in liver, lungs, abdomen and brain. Therefore getting ultrasound scan abdomen and CT scan is most important for you as recommended by your doctor. There is also a serum blood marker called CEA and this tells the chance of spread to liver if it increases in amount. This can be known through a simple blood test. Please do not worry.