Colorectal Cancer: Advanced

This content is divided into two areas:

• Treatments
• If treatments are no longer working

TREATMENTS

The common treatments used for advanced colorectal cancer are the same as used for treating colorectal cancer in general. If you are looking for information about the available treatments and their practical effects:

• For colon cancer, click here.
• For rectal cancer, click here. 

If you are beginning to wonder whether now is the time to take an extended break from treatment, or to stop trying for a cure, and to instead focus on quality of life, our discussion can help clarify thoughts on the subject. Click here.

IF TREATMENT IS NO LONGER WORKING

If your doctor told you that treatment is no longer working and there are no other standard treatments worth considering:

• Did the doctor discuss previous treatments you took? If not, ask that he or she consider using them. There are times when a prior treatment works.
• Is there any evidence to indicate that if you spread infusions over a longer period of time that progress can be slowed without causing undue interference with your life?
• Consider getting a second opinion from a NCI comprehensive cancer cente r or a cancer hospital affiliated with a top educational institution. Ideally, the opinion will come from a panel of doctors with different expertise rather than just one doctor. To learn about second opinions, click here. 
• Check to see if there are clinical trials which involve cutting edge treatments that may work for you. For information about clinical trials in general, click here. To find out if there are clinical trials that may work for you, click here . 
• Explore complementary treatments that can make your life better and possibly longer. If your doctor isn’t familiar with complementary treatments, look for an integrative doctor who combines so-called Eastern and Western medicine. Do not rely solely on complementary treatments. None have been proved to cure cancer.
• Consider changing the goal of treatment from curative with concern about quality of life to solely quality of life (“palliative” care).
  • Before making a final decision, speak with the people closest to you for their thoughts as well as your spiritual advisor.
  • Consider the factors discussed in our document: Is It Time To Shift To A Goal Of Quality Of Life? 
  • If you decide to switch to palliative care, ask your doctor whether you can qualify for hospice care. If you don't ask whether there is a hospice that may be willing to bend the rules  - particularly if you are willing to pay out-of-pocket until you do qualify for hospice care.
    • Usually a life expectancy of 6 months or less is required to qualify for hospice.
    • Hospice care can be given at home as well as a hospital or other medical setting.
    • To learn about hospice care, click here. 

As one survivor put it: It is not our date of birth that matters, neither is it our date of death; what matters most, is the dash in-between.

If your doctor told you that treatment is no longer working and there are no other treatments worth considering ,get a second opinion from an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center or major educational institution. If you want to do your own medical research, click here. If you want to hire a research service, click here. Last, but not least, perhaps this is the time to consider shifting to a goal of quality of life instead of a cure. For more information, click here. 

As one survivor put it: It is not our date of birth that matters, neither is it our date of death; what matters most, is the dash in-between.

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