This can be done to relieve the symptoms

If colorectal cancer is diagnosed in the final stage, it must first be decided on the basis of the individual disease situation whether a therapy with the prospect of cure or palliative therapy is to be carried out. The latter aims to relieve the symptoms when a cure is no longer realistic. Chemotherapy can also be carried out with palliative therapy.

It reduces the size of the tumours and can alleviate the symptoms and pain, as well as prolonging the survival time. Furthermore, there are numerous painkillers available to relieve the pain, ranging from light drugs from the NSAID group to strong opioids. A prominent example of the latter is the active ingredient “Fentanyl“. The use of other soothing symptomatic drugs must be adapted to the current symptoms. In addition to drug therapy, further procedures and psychological support should be used at an advanced stage.

So is life expectancy

Life expectancy of cancer is expressed as the number of survivors 5 years after diagnosis. In stage 4, the so-called final stage, it is about 5%. This includes all colorectal cancers diagnosed in this stage. In the individual case it is shown that the life expectancy can be very different. Even in stage 4, a cure can still be sought for colorectal cancer or the progression of the cancer can be greatly delayed by chemotherapy.

These are the complications

Complications are rather rare with colorectal cancer. However, the altered and constantly growing tissue can impair the functions of the intestine and other organs. The most important complication in the bowel is intestinal obstruction, which can occur due to large growths inside the bowel.

The spread to neighbouring organs can also sometimes cause unusual and dangerous symptoms. These may include pain in the bladder or uterus or the squeezing of important blood vessels of the abdominal organs. Metastases of the liver can also cause abdominal pain and jaundice with yellowing of the skin.

In later stages, many other organ-related complications are conceivable. Depending on whether metastases occur in organs such as the lungs, bones or brain, a wide variety of complications can arise. Intestinal obstruction is a relatively common complication of colorectal cancer.

Excessive growth inside the intestine can cause massive disturbance of the digestion by blocking the stool. As a consequence, cramp-like abdominal pain and a considerable defensive tension of the entire abdominal musculature occur, paired with vomiting, constipation or flatulence. If the intestinal obstruction persists for a long time, the affected parts of the intestine can die off and cause dangerous inflammation. If drug treatment is not sufficient, the intestinal obstruction must be operated in an emergency.

Is a cure in the final stage theoretically possible?

The chances of healing intestinal cancer in all stages are comparatively good. With early treatment, there are good therapeutic options and high chances of cure. Even in the so-called final stage, when metastases have already been found in other organs, a cure can sometimes be achieved.

The prerequisite for this is that only cancerous tumours in the intestine and liver are present and that these can be easily removed by surgery. A cure can only be achieved if all visible parts of the cancer can be removed in one operation. Subsequent chemotherapy should also help to eliminate unnoticed metastases and remaining cancer cells in the body. In the case of inoperable liver metastases or metastases in other organs such as the lungs or bones, a cure can no longer be assumed.