A while ago, I posted a few articles related to intestinal tumors. Many friends left messages to ask about the situation. Some of them were friends who were already sick. They raised some relatively targeted questions. Today we only focus on Let’s talk about a few questions about chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

After colorectal cancer surgery, the doctor recommends chemotherapy. May I ask the principle and effect of tumor chemotherapy?

The treatment of colorectal cancer is mainly surgery. Only by surgical resection can there be a chance for radical cure. Colorectal cancer has a high recurrence rate. Generally, if the tumor is removed by surgery, the places that may spread locally, such as lymph nodes and blood vessels, will also be removed to reduce the risk of recurrence.

As for rectal cancer, due to its low position and the location of the tumor in the pelvis, especially for mid-term rectal cancer, if the patient’s physical condition permits, complete chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by resection is currently the most effective treatment internationally recognized ; For patients with colorectal cancer that can be surgically removed, if there is a deep local invasion or lymph node metastasis, they will be judged according to the pathological conditions and given different adjuvant chemotherapy to eliminate possible residual cancer cells that are invisible to the naked eye.

Now the additional adjuvant chemotherapy after the operation is usually started 3 to 6 weeks after the operation. It is usually based on specialized chemotherapy drugs. The doctor will inspect the patient’s condition and give the safest and most convenient chemotherapy drug prescription. And before chemotherapy, we will also communicate with patients, so that patients can fully understand the benefits of medication and possible side effects, so that doctors and patients can face problems together to reduce anxiety.

In addition to injections, current chemotherapeutic drugs also have oral drugs to choose from, which can improve the patient’s medication compliance. The specific use should be adjusted according to the patient’s condition and condition.

What are the differences in chemotherapy for different parts and stages of colorectal cancer?

In the classification of colorectal cancer, in principle, chemotherapy is not required for stage 0, stage 1, and most of the stage 2. Only high-risk groups in stage 2 and stage 3 need postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Usually Treatment must be carried out for about half a year or so. As for the fourth stage, because the cancer has already metastasized, basically if the part that has been metastasized can be removed by surgery, there is a possibility of recovery, so we will try our best to get the chance to remove it by surgery.

Chemotherapy is recommended for parts that cannot be operated on, but the chemotherapy drugs at this time are different from those in the second and third stages. Because there are obvious cancer cells and cancer tissues spread to other organs in the fourth stage, stronger chemotherapy drugs must be used to achieve the therapeutic effect. At present, there are about 5 main chemotherapeutic drugs used in China, and different combinations are used in sequence in clinical practice to increase the removal effect on cancer cells.

In addition, cancer treatment now emphasizes targeted therapy. At present, there are several targeted drugs for colorectal cancer, but the conditions of use are different, and doctors need to judge according to the patient’s condition. In addition, targeted drugs are currently mostly used for advanced patients, and some Mid-term use in patients, but there is currently no evidence that the sooner the better. However, for advanced patients, in addition to chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy can also be used, which can increase the patient’s treatment success rate and survival rate.

In the past, before there were no good chemotherapy drugs and targeted drugs, the 5-year survival rate of metastatic colorectal cancer patients was less than 5%. Now, because of good drugs, they can live for at least 20 months on average, and even more than 40 months. Cases are not uncommon.

To put it simply, in the early and middle stages of colorectal cancer in different parts, the chemotherapy treatment is basically the same, but in the late stage, with the progress of molecular biology and precision medicine in the past 5 or 6 years, there seems to be a gradual trend to show that growth in the The tumors on the left and right sides respond differently to different targeted drugs, but it is still under clinical observation, and the effect of treatment trials is still to be confirmed.

I am very worried about the side effects of chemotherapy. How should I face and overcome it?

Cancer cells will invade normal cells in the body, and their metabolism will be faster, proliferation and differentiation will be faster, and chemotherapy drugs are aimed at destroying the chromosomes or related genetic material of cancer cells, making them unable to replicate. Therefore, as long as it is a normal somatic cell that proliferates and differentiates rapidly, it may be affected.

The more common side effects occur in hair follicles, which will lead to hair loss; if it occurs in the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, there may be vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and other symptoms. The effect on the bone marrow is due to the damage of hematopoietic cells, and platelets, white blood cells and hemoglobin will decrease. , resulting in anemia, dizziness, weakness, poor resistance or easy infection, etc.; or renal function damage, sensory neuropathy, etc., but these conditions can be alleviated through appropriate and active treatment. As for the problem of rich hands caused by oral drugs (that is, progressive keratosis dactyloides), topical drugs can also be used to relieve it.

Any drug can have side effects, and chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer, although not high, still have them. Before chemotherapy, the doctor will give preventive drugs in advance for possible side effects, and will also clarify the side effects, pros and cons of chemotherapy drugs. If patients have any questions, they can communicate with the medical team.

Cancer treatment is a long-term war of resistance. In addition to the positive face of the patient itself, the encouragement and companionship of family members are also very important. We must understand each other and persist together.

Postoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, what life care should patients pay attention to

Fighting cancer is actually a “war of resistance”, which requires patients to maintain good physical strength. Therefore, nutritional intake is very important. Only a good nutritional state can withstand the physical consumption of surgery and chemotherapy. As for weekday activities, patients are encouraged to participate more in social or family activities.

However, because the body will be weaker and the sensory nerves will be dull after chemotherapy, especially for the elderly, if you are worried about falling accidents, you can try to choose home equipment that is suitable for the elderly. For example, you can install anti-collision stickers on the side of the table. Setting up a handrail in the area, installing a night light in the room or corridor, etc., can avoid accidents.