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Chemotherapy Before Surgery Improves Survival in Advanced Colon Cancer

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Chemotherapy Before Surgery Improves Survival in Advanced Colon Cancer

For patients with advanced colon cancer, a new study brings good news. It shows that starting with chemotherapy before surgery may lead to better survival and fewer complications than the usual approach of surgery first.

Researchers reviewed data from over 3,000 patients with locally advanced colon cancer. They compared two groups: one received chemotherapy before surgery (called neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or NAC), while the other had surgery first, followed by chemotherapy.

The results were clear. Patients who had chemotherapy first lived longer. Five years after treatment, 81% of the NAC group were still alive, compared to about 78% in the surgery-first group. They were also less likely to have the cancer come back.

Starting with chemotherapy also helped during surgery. Fewer patients in the NAC group had cancer left at the edge of the tissue that was removed. This lowers the chance of the cancer returning.

Importantly, adding chemotherapy before surgery did not lead to more surgical problems like leaks or infections. This suggests that NAC is not only effective but also safe.

If you have been diagnosed with locally advanced colon cancer, ask your doctor if starting with chemotherapy could be right for you. This approach might offer better long-term results and help shrink the tumor before surgery.

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Dr. Harsh J Shah

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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
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