Effective Detection of the Dreaded Colon (Colorectal) Cancer

Due to today's unhealthy and stressful lifestyle and  the proliferation of environmentally harmful & man-made toxic chemicals in all forms, cancer is now considered one of the most prevalent, destructive ailments known to man. Although cancer has been around since the earliest of our ancestors, it is only now where we're experiencing its widespread effects. I'm pretty sure each one of us has had a relative, friend or colleague who was diagnosed with, or worse, killed by cancer. In an article published in Men's Health, cancer is now the leading cause of man's death next only to heart disease.

From left to right: Dr. Ellie May B. Villegas (medical oncologist & Philippine Society of Medical Oncology vice president), Dr. Ramy Roxas (colorectal surgeon & ASEAN Society of Colorectal Surgeons president), Merla Rose Reyes (senior social insurance specialist, Philhealth) & Prof. Diena Oroceo (colorectal cancer survivor) during the "Join Our Bowel Movement" press forum held at Hotel Intercon, Makati City. Photo courtesy of Martin Punzalan of FAME Inc.

In a medical forum called "JOIN OUR BOWEL MOVEMENT" organized by Merck Serono, Philhealth and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology attended by this humble blogger, the seriousness and extent of cancer, specifically colorectal cancer (CRC) or commonly known as colon cancer, was discussed extensively. 

Diagram of colorectal cancer

Attending this forum was for me an eye-opener in terms of the public's lack of information on its causes, cures and prevention. This dreaded disease I found out can be cured if detected early with a simple screen test  called KRAS or Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homology offered by both public and private hospitals. I was also surprised by its availability and easy access. Well KRAS in my humble understanding of the matter as provided by the event's press kit, is a post test of CRC tumors that determines the best possible treatment for the disease. I am publishing below an actual photo/diagram of a colorectal cancer tumor to give you a scare and encourage you to get a screen test for CRC immediately (LOL).

Kidding aside, I asked Dr. Ramy Roxas, one of the resource speakers and president of the ASEAN Society of Colorectal Surgeons, on how to prevent this type of cancer and his answer was simple but very sensible, "Get yourself screened as soon as possible even if you don't feel any symptoms." Of course, this is aside from doing all the right stuff such as eating healthy, exercising daily and just adopting a healthy & fit lifestyle.

To understand more about this dreaded cancer and the best possible treatments and early interventions such as the KRAS & KRAS Testing, visit their website www.merck.ph, www.merckserono.com, or call their Philippine office numbers at (02) 815-4067 & (02) 818-3632.

I am also publishing the full press release of the event below to give you a better understanding of KRAS and colorectal cancer.

Again, I enjoin everyone especially my dear readers to always be aware of everything especially matters regarding one's health. Who knows? You might be facing a life and death situation. I never knew the dangers and prevalence of colorectal cancer if it weren't for this informative forum.

Be aware, spread the word and let's all join the "Bowel Movement"!

************************************************************************

Press Release

KRAS biomarker guides Doctors on the most appropriate cancer therapy

Eight years ago, Reynaldo G., a 52 year old businessmen thought he had everything going great for him. His business was thriving well, he received awards for his accomplishments, and he was at the peak of his career.

He noted streaks of blood in his stools which he thought was just due to his hemorrhoids. He underwent an executive check-up and after his colonoscopy, it seemed like the world cave in on him when he was told by his attending physician that he had a tumor in his colon or large intestines.

Biopsy results confirmed that it was cancerous. He underwent surgery which cut a good part of his intestines  to get rid of the cancerous mass completely. He also underwent a complete course of anti-cancer chemotherapy. As of his latest check-up, there’s no indication of any tumor recurrence, and he’s considered cured of his colon cancer.

Not all patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are as lucky as Reynaldo. Some are diagnosed too late when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body; or for some, the cancer cells may not be that responsive to the chosen chemotherapy.

A host of medical experts an  advocates held a press conference on March 22 to raise awareness on CRC and a the first biomarker in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, which helps determine the best anti-cancer therapy suitable for the patient who have a metastatic disease.

The KRAS (Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homology) determines the specific subtypes of CRC which will indicate the most suitable and effective targeted treatment for the patient. The majority of patients with CRC are in the KRAS Wild type (65 percent) while Mutant KRAS is found in 35 percent of cases. Having the tumors screened for KRAS mutations after diagnosis of mCRC is recommended before any treatment is done. This guides the doctor in determining the most suitable anti-cancer therapy for the patient, sparing him or her from unnecessary costs and side-effects.

The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, PhilHealth, and Merck Serono have banded together in organizing “Join our Bowel Movement,” a press conference with talks by the country’s top colorectal cancer experts and advocates.

Lectures by Dr. Felycette Gay Lapus, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) president; Dr. Ellie May B. Villegas, PSMO vice president; Dr. Ramy Roxas, ASEAN society of Colorectal Surgeons president and TMC Colorectal Clinic director; Merla Rose D. Reyes, RPh., PhilHealth Senior Social Insurance Specialist; and Prof. Diena Oroceo, CRC survivor were held on topics ranging from CRC treatment and diagnosis up to a CRC Survivor’s chronicle.

Dr. Villegas talked about CRC screening and diagnosis in her “Check your Colon” talk, and CRC treatment in her “Put your Rear on Gear” talk. Dr. Roxas discussed surgery in CRC in “Cutting Edge” while Reyes talked about the “Government Joining the Bowel Movement.” Prof. Oroceo shared CRC from a survivor’s point-of-view.

CRC begins when normal cells in the lining of the colon or rectum change and grow uncontrollably, forming a polyp which grows to become a malignant tumor.

According to Dr. Villegas, “Recent studies show that cetuximab and panitumamab do not work as well for tumors that have specific mutations to a gene called KRAS.”

The American Society of Clinical Oncology released a provisional clinical opinion recommending that all patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who may receive anti-EFGR therapy have their tumors tested for KRAS gene mutations.

KRAS plays an important role in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. KRAS is a gene that codes one of the proteins of EGFR.

KRAS protein regulates other proteins in the EGFR pathway, which is related to tumor survival, angionesis, proliferation, and metastasis.

KRAS genes come in two types – KRAS wild-type and mutant KRAS. KRAS protein in the latter type has the KRAS protein perpetually “turned-on” and does not need activation by an upstream EGFR-mediated signaling. KRAS wild-type on the other hand means that the protein will only be temporarily activated in response to stimuli like EGFR signaling.

XXX 

By Paolo Angelo Florenda