Awareness needed for more beneficial surgery for colorectal cancer patients

Toronto ON – Only one-third of patients who underwent surgical resection for locally advanced colorectal cancer received a multivisceral resection, a procedure proven to reduce local recurrence and improve survival compared to standard resection, an assessment of 8,380 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry revealed.

The study published in the latest issue of Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows only 33.3 per cent of patients were treated with multivisceral resection, a surgery to remove the cancer and adjacent tissues in nonmetastatic locally advanced adherent colorectal cancer patients. Multivisceral resection is part of current colorectal cancer surgery guidelines that have been adopted across North America and is recommended by the National Cancer Institute and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

“This study leads us to look at how much physicians and patients currently understand of the option of multivisceral resection and provides an opportunity for more public awareness of its long-term survival benefits,” says Dr. Calvin Law, surgical oncologist at Odette Cancer Centre (TSRCC) and principal investigator of the study. “We found that multivisceral resection improves survival but is only performed in one third of patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer. Part of the reason may be that successful multivisceral resections require a comprehensive cancer team of oncologists working collaboratively. I feel very fortunate to be working at TSRCC in such an environment.”

Despite what some may view as drastic having had 65 per cent of his colon removed in cancer surgeries, 57-year-old Bruce Beggs maintains a positive outlook and plays tennis, squash and golf. “Being receptive to advances in treatment,” says Beggs whose father died of cancer at age 42, “I’ve managed 15 more years than my father so far.”

Beggs was diagnosed in 1999 with colon cancer with adherence to the bladder. At first it was unclear if a cure was even possible. However, after meeting with the team at the TSRCC, he received a multivisceral resection to remove the cancerous portions of the colon and bladder. After seven years and further treatment for cancer at different sites, Beggs is presently free from colorectal cancer. He has surpassed all expectations given to him when he was initially diagnosed.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer affecting Canadians. Approximately two-thirds of colorectal cancers are found in the large intestine and one-third in the rectum. In Ontario, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death.