Advances in colorectal cancer treatment and early detection

The second leading cause of cancer deaths, colorectal cancer, is projected to claim the lives of more than 55,000 individuals in 2026. The survivorship rate is high when caught early, but that rate drops rapidly when the disease has spread across the entire body.

Recent research suggests that only 16% of individuals survive after five years once the cancer has spread, as Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is at the forefront of changing those outcomes. This includes groundbreaking clinical trials, novel treatments and therapies, some of which are offered in the Valley.

The goal of the effort isn’t to eliminate the disease from their body outright, but to help late-stage patients live better and longer.

Dr. Rajesh Ramanathan, Oncologist at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss more about the clinical trials and why catching colorectal cancer at earlier stages is so critical.

“With all of our screening efforts, it’s going down in every age category,” Dr. Ramanathan said, “…except those that are young below the age of 50.”

While some inherit the disease genetically, Dr. Ramanathan explained how there are many different factors that impact one’s chances of contracting the disease. Eating processed meats, red meats, obesity in a sedentary life, alcohol, and tobacco all increase the risk of colon cancer.

“The hereditary ones, such as ones that are inherited as part of gene mutations or other diseases like ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease,” Dr. Ramanathan discussed, “…those are less under a person’s control, but the other lifestyle factors are areas that we can make some headway in.”

According to Dr. Ramanathan, there is clear evidence that, as a population, our BMI has gone up, which could have linkages to colon cancer. Dr. Ramanathan also mentioned that sweetened or sugary beverages can be a potential risk factor in colon cancer development.