As many as 50% of Roswell Park patients are eligible for a clinical trial and participation is entirely up to the patient.
Colorectal Cancer
Metastatic colorectal cancer means that cancer cells have spread beyond their organ of origin, the colon or rectum, to other organs, most commonly the liver and lungs.
In recognition of the March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, here’s what you should know about colorectal cancer to take care of yourself and your family.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center integrates a full array of support services to address the unique physical, practical and emotional challenges of patients with colorectal cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, surgery may be a primary part of your treatment. You’ll want to choose a surgeon and treatment center with the tools and expertise to offer you your best chance for positive outcomes in terms of both your survival and your quality of life.
For patients like Marlea who live almost two hours from Roswell Park’s main campus in Buffalo, NY, the Jamestown location provides the full range of services, much closer to home.
From the moment my wife Kelly Ann and I walked in the door at Roswell Park, everyone was friendly and helpful.
“The best screening test is the one that gets done,” Dr. Nurkin says.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women. Although it is slightly more common in men, 1 in every 24 women will be diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer at some point in her life.
The differences between left-sided and right-sided colon cancers include why and how the cancer developed, whether it produces noticeable symptoms, and the cancer’s aggressiveness and how well it responds to usual chemotherapy regimens.
Some colon polyps are benign, which means they are not cancerous, but some can be precancerous or cancerous.
“We’ve come a long way,” he says. "That’s thanks to our phenomenal team, with dedicated surgical technicians and nurses.”