Chemo-Surgery Combo Works For Colon Cancer

Chemo-Surgery Combo Works For Colon CancerStudy: Chemo Before, After Surgery Lowers Recurrence
POSTED: 2:56 pm PDT June 4, 2007
CHICAGO -- Scientists have reported progress in dealing with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.
New research indicates that chemotherapy before and after surgery to remove liver tumors can help keep the disease in check.
It's the first scientific test of an approach that a lot of doctors have already tried for patients with advanced colon and rectal cancers.
About 1 million people worldwide develop colorectal cancer each year, including more than 150,000 in the U.S.
In up to half the patients, the disease spreads to the liver after initial treatment. For many cancers, that means it's also spread elsewhere, and that surgery is no longer an option.
But with colorectal cancer, sometimes the disease spreads only to the liver, and surgery is increasingly being tried.
The results of the research were presented at a cancer conference in Chicago.