Nurse-led telephone outreach for a COVID-adapted suspected colorectal cancer pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Sheila E Bell ◽  
Jill Crawford ◽  
Frances Gunn ◽  
Colin Noble ◽  
Janice Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Patient Flow ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Flow Number ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Immunochemical Test ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Patient Concerns

Background: COVID-19 has brought about unprecedented challenges to healthcare services in the UK. The pandemic led to the cessation of colonoscopy and outpatient clinics. A bespoke COVID-adapted cancer pathway, using computed tomography (CT) scanning and the quantitative faecal immunochemical test (qFIT), was introduced to mitigate the risks of patients referred with potential colorectal cancer. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the workload of patient telephone calls undertaken by nurses and their impact on the operation of the pathway. Methods: Data were collected prospectively and analysed to assess the volume of patient flow, number of calls made and content of conversations. Findings: During a 2-month period, 975 patients (56.6% female, median age 63 years) were registered on the COVID-adapted cancer pathway. The 45.9% (n=448) of patients who did not return qFIT tests in a timely manner were contacted. Of these, 9.4% (n=42) requested to postpone or declined an appointment. Most were appreciative of the opportunity to clarify the rationale of the pathway and address any concerns. Conclusions: Phone calls made and received by nursing staff were helpful to discuss patient concerns and increase patients' understanding of the alternative treatment options available during the pandemic.

The current thinking on colorectal cancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
P Spreadborough ◽  
C Doran
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Military Population ◽  
Important Condition ◽  
Common Cancer ◽  
Current Thinking ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Surgical Options ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Military

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the incidence has increased over recent decades. Although only 1.5% of cases are diagnosed in those aged under 40 years, it remains an important condition to be aware of in the military population. Patients who are genetically predisposed can have a lifetime risk of 80-100% of developing CRC and are likely to develop symptoms during their service. 20% of patients will present with metastatic disease. While surgical and oncological treatments have improved outcomes, early diagnosis of CRC is essential to reducing mortality. This paper provides an overview of the aetiology, investigations and treatment options for CRC. Explanation of primary surgical options and the principles of adjuvant therapies are included to aid informed discussions with patients.

scholarly journals Patient profiles as an aim to optimize selection in the second line setting: the role of aflibercept

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. González Astorga ◽  
F. Salvà Ballabrera ◽  
E. Aranda Aguilar ◽  
E. Élez Fernández ◽  
P. García-Alfonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Line Treatment ◽  
Second Line ◽  
First Line ◽  
Effective Therapeutic Option ◽  
Line Setting ◽  
First Line Treatment

AbstractColorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, it is recommended, as first-line treatment, chemotherapy (CT) based on doublet cytotoxic combinations of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). In addition to CT, biological (targeted agents) are indicated in the first-line treatment, unless contraindicated. In this context, most of mCRC patients are likely to progress and to change from first line to second line treatment when they develop resistance to first-line treatment options. It is in this second line setting where Aflibercept offers an alternative and effective therapeutic option, thought its specific mechanism of action for different patient’s profile: RAS mutant, RAS wild-type (wt), BRAF mutant, potentially resectable and elderly patients. In this paper, a panel of experienced oncologists specialized in the management of mCRC experts have reviewed and selected scientific evidence focused on Aflibercept as an alternative treatment.

scholarly journals Update on the role of pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482110244
Author(s):  
Vanessa Wookey ◽  
Axel Grothey
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Multiple Cancer ◽  
Multiple Treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer type in both men and women in the USA. Most patients with CRC are diagnosed as local or regional disease. However, the survival rate for those diagnosed with metastatic disease remains disappointing, despite multiple treatment options. Cancer therapies for patients with unresectable or metastatic CRC are increasingly being driven by particular biomarkers. The development of various immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer therapy over the last decade by harnessing the immune system in the treatment of cancer, and the role of immunotherapy continues to expand and evolve. Pembrolizumab is an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibitor and has become an essential part of the standard of care in the treatment regimens for multiple cancer types. This paper reviews the increasing evidence supporting and defining the role of pembrolizumab in the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic CRC.

scholarly journals Bevacizumab plus capecitabine as later-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeong Hak Bang ◽  
Jeong Eun Kim ◽  
Ji Sung Lee ◽  
Sun Young Kim ◽  
Kyu-Pyo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Median Overall Survival ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Line Treatment ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Medical Need ◽  
Significant Disease

AbstractThere is an unmet medical need for later-line treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Considering that, beyond progression, co-treatment with bevacizumab and cytotoxic chemotherapy showed less toxicity and a significant disease control rate, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of capecitabine and bevacizumab. This single-center retrospective study included 157 patients between May 2011 and February 2018, who received bevacizumab plus capecitabine as later-line chemotherapy after progressing with irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and fluoropyrimidines. The study treatment consisted of bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg on day 1 and capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 orally (PO) twice daily on day 1 to 14, repeated every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The median PFS was 4.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.9–5.3). The median overall survival (OS) was 9.7 months (95% CI 8.3–11.1). The overall response rate was 14% (22/157). Patients who had not received prior targeted agents showed better survival outcomes in the multivariable analysis of OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59, 95% CI 0.43–0.82, P = 0.002) and PFS (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.43–0.85, P = 0.004). Bevacizumab plus capecitabine could be a considerably efficacious option for patients with mCRC refractory to prior standard treatments.

scholarly journals Experiences of recovery from colorectal cancer surgery after hospital discharge among the oldest old: A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. 205715852199445
Author(s):  
Kristina Sundt Eriksen ◽  
Sissel Iren Eikeland Husebø ◽  
Hartwig Kørner ◽  
Kirsten Lode
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Surgery ◽  
Discharge From Hospital ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

Colorectal cancer affects a large number of people aged ≥80 years. Little is known about how they manage after discharge from hospital. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals aged ≥80 years recovering from surgery for colorectal cancer, and the challenges they may encounter after discharge from hospital. Data were collected between January and March 2016 through in-depth interviews with ten participants approximately one month after surgery. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The COREQ checklist was used in reporting this study. Two themes were identified: Managing the recovery from CRC surgery, and Insufficient follow-up from the healthcare services after CRC surgery. The findings indicate that older people treated for colorectal cancer manage surprisingly well after discharge despite challenges in their recovery; however, there are seemingly areas of improvement in their follow-up healthcare.

scholarly journals The Evolutionary Landscape of Treatment for BRAFV600E Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Gianluca Mauri ◽  
Erica Bonazzina ◽  
Alessio Amatu ◽  
Federica Tosi ◽  
Katia Bencardino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Braf Inhibitor ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Cytotoxic Chemotherapy ◽  
Cytotoxic Agents ◽  
Poor Prognostic Factor

The BRAFV600E mutation is found in 8–10% of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients and it is recognized as a poor prognostic factor with a median overall survival inferior to 20 months. At present, besides immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) for those tumors with concomitant MSI-H status, recommended treatment options include cytotoxic chemotherapy + anti-VEGF in the first line setting, and a combination of EGFR and a BRAF inhibitor (cetuximab plus encorafenib) in second line. However, even with the latter targeted approach, acquired resistance limits the possibility of more than an incremental benefit and survival is still dismal. In this review, we discuss current treatment options for this subset of patients and perform a systematic review of ongoing clinical trials. Overall, we identified six emerging strategies: targeting MAPK pathway (monotherapy or combinations), targeting MAPK pathway combined with cytotoxic agents, intensive cytotoxic regimen combinations, targeted agents combined with CPIs, oxidative stress induction, and cytotoxic agents combined with antiangiogenic drugs and CPIs. In the future, the integration of new therapeutic strategies targeting key players in the BRAFV600E oncogenic pathways with current treatment approach based on cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery is likely to redefine the treatment landscape of these CRC patients.

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