Malignant Conditions

Malignant conditions of the colon, rectum, and anus are serious diseases that require prompt, expert care. These cancers can significantly impact a patient's quality of life and overall health. The Apollo Institute of Colorectal Surgery offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options for colorectal and anal cancers, employing a multidisciplinary approach to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

• Colon Cancer: Colon cancer develops in the large intestine (colon) and is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. At Apollo, the treatment approach includes:
• Surgery: The primary treatment is the surgical removal of the tumour and nearby lymph nodes. This may include procedures like colectomy or hemicolectomy.
• Chemotherapy: Often used after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill any remaining cancer cells. Common regimens include FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, and CAPEOX.
• Targeted Therapy: For advanced cases, targeted drugs may be used in combination with chemotherapy. These include bevacizumab (targeting VEGF) and cetuximab or panitumumab (targeting EGFR) for certain tumour types.
• Immunotherapy: For some patients with specific genetic markers (dMMR/MSI-H), immunotherapy drugs like pembrolizumab may be used.
  
   
• Rectal Cancer: Rectal cancer affects the last several inches of the colon and requires specialized treatment due to its location. Apollo's approach includes:
• Neoadjuvant Therapy: Many patients receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy (chemoradiation) before surgery to shrink the tumour.
• Surgery: Procedures may include low anterior resection (LAR), abdominoperineal resection (APR), or in some cases, transanal resection for early-stage tumours.
• Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT): This approach involves giving both chemotherapy and radiation before surgery, which may improve outcomes and potentially avoid the need for extensive surgery in some cases.
• Adjuvant Therapy: Additional chemotherapy may be given after surgery, depending on the stage and response to neoadjuvant treatment.
  
   
• Anal Cancer: Anal cancer is less common but requires expert management due to its sensitive location. The Apollo Institute's treatment care includes:
• Chemoradiation: A combination of chemotherapy (usually with 5-FU and mitomycin C) and radiation therapy is the standard first-line treatment for most anal cancers.
• Surgery: Reserved for cases where chemoradiation is not effective or for very early-stage tumours. This may involve local excision or, in more advanced cases, abdominoperineal resection.
• Immunotherapy: For metastatic or recurrent anal cancer, immunotherapy drugs like nivolumab or pembrolizumab may be used.