Cancer Ribbon Colors, Meanings, and Months
Improving Survival Rate Of Lung Cancer Patients
Worldwide, lung cancer accounts for the largest number of new cancer cases and deaths from cancer annually.Investigators in an international study found the survival rate of non-small-cell lung cancer patients after its removal improved with cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Cisplatin is an anti-neoplastic medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body. As part of the International Adjuvant Lung Cancer Trial, researchers randomly assigned 1,867 patients to receive either three or four cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy or observation. In addition to cisplatin, the drug etoposide was given to about 56 percent of patients; the drug vinorelbine was given to about 26 percent of patients; vinblastine was given to 11 percent of patients, and vindesine was given to nearly 6 percent of patients. Of the 932 patients assigned to chemotherapy, nearly 73 percent received at least 240 milligrams of cisplatin per square meter of body-surface area.Results of the study show, after five years, patients assigned to chemotherapy had a significantly higher survival rate at 44.5 percent than those assigned to observation who had a 40.4 survival rate at five years. Patients assigned to chemotherapy also had a significantly higher disease-free survival rate at 39.4 percent than those assigned to observation with 34.3 percent.
According to the study, about 900,000 people worldwide under age 75 receive a lung cancer diagnosis each year and about 75 percent of those patients are candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy. Researchers say their results indicate that roughly 7,000 deaths from non-small-cell carcinoma would be averted annually with the use of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Four Stages Of Cancer And What Each One Means - From 'non-invasive' To Terminal
The dreaded C word is no longer the death sentence it used to be - especially if the disease is caught early. Doctors use a stage system from 0-4 to identify the size of the tumours and whether the cancer has spread
There are more than 200 different types of cancer (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
In the UK, one in two people will develop some kind of cancer during their lifetime.
But the dreaded C word is no longer the death sentence it used to be, especially if detected early. In fact, cancer survival in the UK has doubled in the last 50 years - and easier to treat variants such as testicular cancer have a 98 per cent survival rate.
Surgery is usually the first treatment people try as solid tumours can be surgically removed. Other methods include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But, what exactly are the four stages of cancer and what does each one mean?
The NHS says cancer can be categorised using different methods. The TNM staging system uses a variety of letters and numbers to describe the state of the condition, including how big tumours are and whether the cancer has spread. Doctors will also use a staging system from 0-4.
Stage 0: The cancer is where it started and has not spread.
Stage 1: The cancer is small and hasn't spread anywhere else
Stage 2: The cancer has grown but has not spread
Stage 3: The cancer is larger and may have spread to surrounding tissue. May have also spread to the lymph nodes or 'glands'
Stage 4: The cancer will have spread from where it started in the body to at least one other organ. This is also referred to as 'secondary' or 'metastatic' cancer.
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Stage zero, otherwise known as Carcinoma in situ, means that there is a group of 'abnormal cells in area of the body' - but that these are too small to form a tumour. According to Cancer Research, some experts refer to this these cell changes as 'non-invasive cancer' or 'precancerous changes'. This doesn't mean that treatment itself won't be invasive - as surgery and radiotherapy are still commonly used at this stage.
When a person's cancer is not curable and will result in death, doctors use the term 'terminal'. However, this is not linked to a specific stage. Even those diagnosed with stage four cancers are not always terminal - and may just require more aggressive forms of treatment.
Survival ratesIt makes sense that the earlier the stage of cancer - the better the survival rates - but this does vary depending on which variant of the disease we're talking about. According to the Office for National Statistics : "Apart from lung and ovarian cancer, there is a pattern of similar one year survival for patients diagnosed at stages 1 - 3 and a large decrease for those diagnosed at stage 4".
The stage four survival rate varies from 15 per cent (men with lung cancer) to 83 per cent (men with prostate cancer) - showing again that stage four cancer does not mean 'terminal' . The low figure for lung cancer could be attributed to the fact that many cancers are diagnosed much later on in comparison to others.
Colorectal cancer's one year survival is similar for men and women at all stages. Whereas ovarian cancer's one year survival rates steadily decreases with increasing stage, meaning an early diagnosis is essential.
There are many early warning signs of cancer, including finding a lump that suddenly appears on your body, unexplained bleeding, and changes to your bowel habits. It's important to see a GP if you're worried about your symptoms.
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How Long Will A Person With Stage 4 Colon Cancer Live?
Stage 4 colon cancer occurs when cancer in the colon spreads, or metastasizes, to other tissues and organs. The 5-year survival rate for people with stage 4 colon cancer is about 13%.
The statistic above comes from the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Colon cancer most often spreads to the liver, but it may also reach the lungs, the lymph nodes, or the lining of the abdominal cavity.
However, everyone is different, and other factors contribute to a person's outlook.
The correct diagnosis of colon cancer may take some time, as doctors use many tests to detect and locate cancer.
If they identify cancer, they will also use more tests to see whether it has spread.
The tests and processes that can aid a colon cancer diagnosis include:
After running all of the necessary tests, a doctor will discuss the diagnosis with the individual.
Anyone who receives a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis will have to make some decisions about the way forward, particularly regarding treatment options.
It is important to discuss all of the options with a doctor and to understand the goal of each treatment. Some questions a person may wish to ask a healthcare professional include:
The treatment options available to people with stage 4 colon cancer are more limited than those suitable for the earlier stages of this cancer. However, there are still some treatment options to consider, as well as other factors to keep in mind.
SurgeryWhen cancerous cells have spread to distant organs and tissues, surgery is not likely to cure the condition. There are some cases in which surgery may still be a good option, though.
If a scan reveals that the cancer has only spread to a few small areas, surgery may still be possible. By surgically removing the cancerous cells, doctors hope to help the person live longer.
These surgeries will involve the removal of part of the colon as well as the nearby lymph nodes. Additional surgery may remove the areas of tissue into which the cancer has spread. Doctors will typically also recommend chemotherapy, either before or after the surgery.
If the tumor cells are too large to remove, or there are too many of them, doctors will recommend chemotherapy before the person undergoes any surgical procedures. If this shrinks the tumors, they may then ask a surgeon to proceed with the surgery.
Doctors may also need to perform additional surgical procedures if the cancerous growth is likely to obstruct the colon or is already blocking it. In some cases, minimally invasive surgery, such as placing a stent, may be possible.
Surgeons can place a stent, which is a hollow tube that typically consists of mesh metal or plastic, into the colon during a colonoscopy. When successful, a stent may help keep the colon open and make more invasive surgery unnecessary.
Doctors may also recommend a diverting colostomy, which essentially cuts the colon above the cancerous tissue and diverts the waste from the body out through a small opening in the skin.
ChemotherapyIf the colon cancer has spread too far for surgery to be effective, chemotherapy is the primary treatment option.
Most people with stage 4 colon cancer will receive chemotherapy or specific targeted therapies to help control the cancer progression or symptoms.
Doctors may recommend some treatment regimens that include a targeting drug, which targets either the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway or the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway.
The choice between regimens will vary in each situation. The most suitable option will depend on the types of treatment that a person has had before, their overall health, and their responsiveness to treatment.
It is not uncommon for doctors to try multiple treatments. If the cancer does not respond to the first treatment, they may stop that treatment and start another instead.
Radiation therapyDoctors may also recommend radiation therapy in late-stage colon cancer to help reduce symptoms such as pain and discomfort.
This treatment might even shrink the tumor for a time, but it will not usually cure the cancer.
Hepatic artery infusionA hepatic artery infusion may be a treatment option for people with colon cancer that has spread to the liver.
It is a type of regional chemotherapy, which involves delivering a chemotherapy drug directly into the hepatic artery in the liver. This treatment may help destroy cancer cells without harming the healthy liver cells in the process.
Ablation or embolizationAblation or embolization may be appropriate for people who have metastatic or reoccurring colorectal cancer that causes a few tumors in the lung or liver that are less than 4 centimeters across.
Ablation uses either radio frequencies, microwaves, or alcohol — which people also call percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) — to target and kill cancer cells while leaving the surrounding tissues relatively unharmed.
During embolization, a doctor will inject substances into the blood vessels to try to block or reduce the blood flow to cancer cells in the liver.
Palliative careIf cancer progresses to many distant organs and tissues, surgery may not help extend a person's lifespan. Other treatment options can cause discomfort and may produce additional symptoms that make the person's quality of life worse.
In these cases, people may decide against medical treatment that seeks to cure the cancer and instead opt for palliative care to try to make living more comfortable.
Palliative care will typically involve finding ways to manage pain and reduce a person's symptoms so that they can live comfortably for as long as possible.
As the ACS note, colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both males and females in the United States.
Stage 4 colon cancer is late-stage cancer in which the disease has spread to other tissues or organs in the body and is, therefore, more difficult to treat. Treatment may only be partially successful, and cancer may be more likely to return after treatment.
According to the ACS, the 5-year relative survival rate for colon cancer that has spread to distant organs, is 13%. However, this does not account for other factors that may affect individual survival rates.
For instance, the success of particular treatment methods may vary among individuals, with treatments that work very well for some people having little effect in others.
Additionally, experts base these statistics on past cases. As treatments tend to get better over time, survival rates may also improve as more effective treatments become available.
Individual factors can also play a significant role in a person's outcome. For instance, the age and overall health of an individual may affect their responsiveness to treatment.
The rate of cancer progression may change the outlook as well. If the cancer causes complications, such as a blockage in the colon or a hole in the bowel wall, the person's outlook is likely to change.
This survival statistic also only applies to stage 4 colon cancer when doctors first diagnose it. The survival rate will be different for those in whom the cancer has spread further or returned after treatment.
Stage 4 colon cancer is late-stage cancer. Life expectancy is lower than it is for earlier stages of cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate for stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is about 13%. However, other factors, such as the chosen treatment methods and the person's overall health, contribute to life expectancy.
Although there are often still several treatment options available, including surgery and chemotherapy, some people with late-stage cancer choose not to have medical treatment and to seek palliative care instead.
Anyone who receives a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer should work closely with their medical team to discuss all the treatment options and decide what will best suit their needs.
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