3 minutes

Colon Cancer Treatment in the Confraternität Private Hospital

Prof. Dr. Johannes Drach

Medical fields:
Hematology and internal oncology
Internal medicine
Medical Director of Confraternität Private Hospital

New treatment concepts improve chances of recovery

The specialists of Confraternität Private Hospital have many years of experience and are involved in international research projects. Modern cancer treatment is always realized by highly specialized teams of experts of various disciplines.

Following specialists are usually involved in the treatment of colon carcinoma: gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, specialists in radiation oncology and pathology. Professional patient management is crucial so that patients can get the treatment they need quickly.

At Confraternität Private Hospital patients are cared for by their attending specialist throughout the whole treatment process. This specialist takes over the coordination with the specialists of the other disciplines. He discusses every necessary step in the treatment concept with the patient, and is in permanent contact with the medical staff and care team who work with the aim of ensuring the well-being of the patient.

Surgical Treatment

The aim of the operation is to remove the tumor as completely as possible. Laparoscopic tumor removal has become established and is now routine. The affected part of the intestine is removed while maintaining a safe distance in healthy tissue. Affected lymph nodes are also removed. Thus, in the early stages, a high percentage of the patients can be cured.

Even in the case of circumscribed metastases in the liver, surgical treatment can be an option after pretreatment with chemotherapy.

New forms of therapy

In addition to conventional chemotherapy, biological forms of therapy with artificially produced antibodies are successfully used for colorectal cancer. The antibodies attach themselves to special features on the surface of the cancer cells, making them visible and vulnerable to your own immune system. The antibodies Bevacizumab, Cetuximab and Panitumubab are already being used, mostly in combination with other chemotherapy drugs (so-called immunochemotherapy). Several other antibodies for targeted therapy are currently under development.

"With the progress of recent years in the treatment of colon and rectal cancer, patients with metastases in the liver or lungs can be cured. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy with antibodies, metastases can be removed from the liver in up to 50 percent of patients. Due to the great regenerative power of the liver, these patients have an excellent quality of life after the operation.”(Quote Prof. Kührer; specialist in oncology) Molecular and genetic tests from the tumor tissue can often be used to predict in advance whether therapy will work for an individual patient. If antibody and chemotherapy is an option, it is prepared according to the individual tumor profile.

After therapy

Many patients are afraid of an ostomy (artificial bowel exit). Due to modern, preoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy today the sphincter can be preserved in 9 out of 10 cases using. In comparison: In the 1980s, 8 out of 10 patients had to have an artificial colon exit. (Quote from Prof. Teleky, specialist in surgery).

Prevention is better than cure

Colon cancer develops over many years from initially benign colon polyps. These can be found in the course of a colonoscopy and easily removed. Regular colonoscopy could prevent colorectal cancer in 90% of cases. The Confraternität private clinic offers “gentle colonoscopy”, i.e. examination and removal of polyps are carried out under gentle short-term anesthesia (so-called sedoanalgesia). The intervention is therefore painless for the patient.

Please contact us for further information or appointments!

Contact:

Confraternität Private Hospital

Skodagasse 32
1080 Vienna • Austria

T: +43 1 401 14-5873
E: international@pkj.at