Colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, especially when detected early. For those in advanced stages, significant advancements in therapies are providing renewed hope.

Dr. Umair Majeed, a Mayo Clinic oncologist, says improved treatment options mean better outcomes for patients, even for those with late-stage colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer is staged from 0 to 4. The stage determines the extent of the cancer — and the treatment.

"Stages 3 and 4 are considered advanced stages, where the cancer goes into the lymph nodes in stage 3 disease, and it goes into distant organs like the lungs, liver or bones in stage 4 disease," says Dr. Majeed.

When colorectal cancer spreads

The liver is the most common organ colorectal spreads to.

"We are offering liver transplantation as an option to select patients. We have a hepatic artery infusion pump program also available for those patients where the cancer has spread from the colon or the rectum to the liver," he says.

The pump delivers chemotherapy directly to artery that supplies the liver. He says, in addition to surgery, treatment options include better drugs, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

"We have surgeons who specialize in advanced procedures such as cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC, which is a form of specialized chemotherapy given into the peritoneum for select patients," Dr. Majeed says.

With all these advanced options, Dr. Majeed remains cautiously optimistic.

"Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer where, even if it's stage 4, there is a chance of cure in select cases," he says.

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