Hello,
Thank you for using Ask a Doctor Services from DoctorSpring.
I'm sorry to hear about your health condition and I completely understand your problem.
Survival of bowel cancer depends upon the severity and the location of tumour.
The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Of course, many people live much longer than 5 years (and many are cured). In order to get 5-year survival rates, doctors have to look at people who were treated at least 5 years ago.
Survival rates are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had the disease, but cannot be implied to a particular case. Knowing the type and the stage of a person's cancer is important in estimating their survival rate. But many other factors may also affect a person's survival rate such as
- the grade of the cancer,
- the genetic changes in the cancer cells, and
- how well the cancer responds to treatment.
Even when taking these other factors into account, survival rates are only a rough estimate.
Hence, the survival rates are only an approximation; there is a fair chance that you could live longer.
Firstly I would suggest you to Consult an oncology surgeon and discuss with him with your diagnostic reports. It is advisable to choose a medical team who are experienced in treating colorectal cancer which will further increase the outcome. The oncologist will discuss with you about the treatment options. Choosing a treatment option should depend upon the stage of cancer , your overall health and relieving your symptoms.
The main types of treatment that can be used for colon and rectal cancer are:
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
There are few medications which are approved by USFDA for treating colorectal cancer like Adrucil (Fluorouracil)
Avastin (Bevacizumab), Bevacizumab, Camptosar (Irinotecan Hydrochloride),Capecitabine and others
Recently, researchers are trying to combine effective chemotherapy drugs to have more rapid cure. Targeted therapies are currently used to treat advanced cancers, but newer studies are trying to determine if using them with chemotherapy in earlier stage cancers as part of adjuvant therapy may further reduce the risk of recurrence. Researchers are also studying new targeted therapy drugs one such drug is ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap®), was recently approved by the FDA to treat advanced colon cancer. In surgical methods Robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgeries are most widely used. Having said this, it is however important to weigh the treatment options with their side effects as well. So a thorough discussion with an Oncology medical team will definitely help you in opting the best treatment for you.
I would recommend you consult an Oncologist/ Oncosurgeon and discuss about the treatment options.
Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask if you need further help.
Thank you.