New hope for colon cancer patients
- Published: 1/10/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Mylife
Over the years, much progress has been made in the treatment of colon cancer, to help patients have a better quality of life and give them a longer life expectancy.
Recently, adjuvant therapy using fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (LV) has been used to help reduce tumour recurrence and increase the survival rate of patients with Stage 2 and 3 colon cancer. However, the recurrence rates with 5-FU/LV treatment were still more than 30 %.
Oxaliplatin/5-FU/Leucovorin (Folfox4), is another new treatment. "Trials showed a 22% decreased likelihood of tumour recurrence with use of this new medication," Dr Vorachai said.
Anil Sachdev (aged 56)
As a businessman, I need to meet a lot of people. I go out for parties very often. I enjoy all kinds of food, but beef.
Five years ago, I woke up with a low fever most of the time. I had a basic physical examination, but nothing serious was found. After a colonoscopy, a polyp was found so I had an operation. In 2004, I was given Folfox4 adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent recurrence. The new medicine was injected every two or three weeks for a total of 12 doses. I was recommended to have a periodic CT scan and blood check in order to ensure that the cancer has not returned.
The new medicine caused numbness in my hands sometimes.
