Management of colorectal cancer
- Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK
- Correspondence to: Professor R J C Steele, Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; r.j.c.steele{at}dundee.ac.uk
- Received 14 February 2002
- Accepted 21 March 2002
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Prompt investigation of suspicious symptoms is important, but there is increasing evidence that screening for the disease can produce significant reductions in mortality. High quality surgery is of paramount importance in achieving good outcomes, particularly in rectal cancer, but adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy have important parts to play. The treatment of advanced disease is still essentially palliative, although surgery for limited hepatic metastases may be curative in a small proportion of patients.
