Recent Study Shows Many Hospitals Fail to Check Spread of Colon Cancer
December 18th, 2008
After a national study headed by Northwestern University researcher Karl Y. Bilmoria, MD, and colleagues, it was determined that 62% of U.S. hospitals do not meet the guidelines for successfully determining the spread of colon cancer.Guidelines state that doctors should examine at least 12 lymph nodes close to the original tumor at least 75% of the time. Examining nearby lymph nodes has proven the best way of determining whether colon cancer has been successfully removed, and has not spread beyond the original tumor. Many hospitals in the study examined an average of much less than the 12 lymph nodes recommended.
Los Angeles colon cancer patients can attest, this type of cancer is not the easiest to remove. It is crucial for doctors to examine an adequate amount of lymph nodes in order to determine what sort of treatment the patient should receive after surgery. Inadequate examinations put the patient at risk of missing out on lifesaving treatment, and even undergoing unnecessary chemotherapy.
Many a Los Angeles gastroenterologist know the importance of this guideline, although often times the surgeon and the pathologist never meet, so there is no direct communication about the case of the patient, which could in turn contribute to the laxity of this important rule.
Another problem with the after care is that many colon cancer patients don’t attend regular checkups with their doctors. Gregory S. Cooper, MD, and colleagues at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University say that because of this lack of follow-up care 30% of patients have their cancer come back within five years of surgery.
It is recommended that local colon cancer patients receive a follow-up Los Angeles colonoscopy a year after surgery, and, if negative, every three years after that. A colonoscopy can detect whether colon polyps in the large intestine are, in fact, cancer free. The CEA blood test can also determine whether cancer could be spreading in the body.
It is important for the physician and the patient to take all the recommended steps in ensuring the successful removal and follow-up care for colon cancer. Because this type of cancer is so complicated, it is entirely possible for a patient to come back with second, third, and even fourth cases of cancer. Regular check ups and screenings can greatly reduce this risk.
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