Description & Objectives
Across all races in the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer, affecting 52.7 in 100,000 people and is the second leading cancer-related cause of death worldwide. Prevention and early detection are the keys to reducing death due to this life threatening disease. This is dependent upon early and regular screening to facilitate the detection and removal of precancerous colorectal polyps and by treating the cancer in its early stages. There is a 5 year survival rate of 90% when colorectal cancer is detected early, but because screening rates are low, less than 40% of colorectal cancers are found early. If everyone over 50 years of age was screened regularly, deaths from this cancer could be reduced by 60 percent, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection can greatly increase the chance of treatment being successful. Mayo Clinic researchers concluded that “Colorectal Cancer, the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, is preventable with effective screening and removal of precursor lesions.”(1)
1.Colorectal Research; New Findings from Mayo Clinic Describe Advances in Colorectal Research, Life Science Weekly, Atlanta: Mar 6, 2012, pg. 1558
At the conclusion of this symposium, the participant will provide better patient care through an increased ability to:
- Identify barriers to treating older patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and recognize signs of fragility in older patients with CRC and how fragility may affect CRC treatment decisions
- Identify the key long-term risks of CRC treatment, the role of the oncologist in minimizing and managing long term risks and strategies to minimize and manage the risks of CRC treatment
- Explain the role of neoadjuvant treatment in managing metastatic colorectal cancer, determine proper timing for surgical intervention in metastatic colorectal cancer and recognize the role of palliation in metastatic colorectal cancer
- State and clarify the management of CRC in older adults, the long-term risks of CRC treatment, and excision of the primary in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Identify when genetic testing is part of high-risk screening for colon cancer, describe two approaches to screen for Lynch syndrome and explain what screening is advised for a person with two immediate relatives with colon cancer
- State the prognostic and predictive value of microsatellite instability in Stage II and III colon cancer, the prognostic and predictive value of B-RAF and K-RAS mutation in Stage II and III colon cancer, and the prognostic and predictive value of PIK3A mutation in Stage II and III colon cancer
- Discuss health services research in oncology and highlight the top 5 issues affecting cancer health services
- State and clarify updates in screening and surveillance of high-risk groups, molecular risk stratification in the adjuvant setting, and health services and outcomes research for colorectal cancer
Friday, October 17, 2014
7:45 a.m.-4:50 p.m.
1101 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101