Leading expert in gastrointestinal cancer surgery, Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, explains how lung metastases and liver metastases can be surgically removed in stage 4 colorectal cancer. He details a combined surgical approach where thoracic and liver surgeons operate simultaneously. This aggressive treatment strategy offers a chance for long-term survival. Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, emphasizes the critical role of a medical second opinion to confirm the diagnosis and determine surgical candidacy for patients with advanced metastatic disease.
Plus de Diagnostic Detectives Network
Advanced Surgical Treatment for Colorectal Cancer with Lung and Liver Metastases
Jump To Section
- Lung and Liver Metastases Resection
- Surgical Approach Options
- Survival Benefits and Outcomes
- Importance of a Medical Second Opinion
- Recent Progress in Treatment
- Full Transcript
Lung and Liver Metastases Resection
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, a leading gastrointestinal cancer surgeon, confirms that resection of lung metastases and liver metastases in stage 4 colorectal cancer is performed with curative intent. This represents a significant shift in oncology. Historically, the presence of lung metastases precluded patients from potentially curative surgical intervention. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, discusses this evolution in treatment philosophy with Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, surgeon.
Surgical Approach Options
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, outlines two primary surgical strategies for treating metastatic colorectal cancer affecting both the liver and lungs. The first approach involves a synchronous operation. A team of liver cancer surgeons and thoracic oncology surgeons work together in the same operation to remove all metastatic lesions. The second strategy is a sequential resection. This is often chosen if a major operation is required, allowing surgeons to address metastatic disease above and below the diaphragm in separate procedures.
Survival Benefits and Outcomes
While large-scale survival data for simultaneous lung and liver metastases resection is still developing, Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, is convinced of its benefit. He draws a parallel to the improved survival rates already seen in patients who undergo surgery for liver metastases alone. Dr. Schilling attributes this potential to improved surgical techniques that have decreased operative mortality and complication rates, paving the way for better long-term outcomes.
Importance of a Medical Second Opinion
Dr. Anton Titov, MD, and Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, highlight the critical importance of seeking a medical second opinion for stage 4 colorectal cancer. A second opinion is essential to clarify the diagnosis of metastatic disease. It also helps patients and their families decide if complex lung metastases surgery is a viable and appropriate option. Consulting with a leading expert ensures confidence that the chosen treatment plan is the best available.
Recent Progress in Treatment
The treatment landscape for metastatic colorectal cancer has advanced dramatically. Dr. Martin Schilling, MD, notes that lung metastases, which occur in up to 50% of colorectal cancer patients, are no longer an automatic barrier to surgery. This progress means that long-term survival is now a realistic possibility for select patients with pulmonary metastases. The best treatment centers specialize in this multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of various surgical oncologists to tackle complex metastatic disease.
Full Transcript
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Leading gastrointestinal cancer surgeon discusses lung metastases and liver metastases resection. Therapy in metastatic stage 4 colorectal cancer. Thoracic surgeons can operate at the same time together with liver cancer surgeons. Surgeons remove lung metastases and liver metastases during a single operation. Stage 4 colon cancer patients with pulmonary metastases can achieve long-term survival.
Lung metastases treatment in colorectal cancer. Dr. Martin Schilling, MD. Lung metastases treatment and liver metastases treatment in stage 4 colorectal cancer is possible with curative intent. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Liver and lung metastases can be resected at once by liver cancer surgeons and thoracic oncology surgeons working at the same time. Patients can have long-term survival after treatment of lung metastases from colorectal cancer.
Medical second opinion clarifies stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis. It helps to decide if lung metastases surgery is possible in stage 4 colon cancer. Dr. Martin Schilling, MD. Best treatment for advanced stage 4 colon cancer with lung metastatic lesions. Medical second opinion from a leading expert helps to find the best treatment for stage 4 colorectal cancer with lung metastases.
Get a medical second opinion on advanced colorectal cancer and be confident that your treatment is the best. Best colorectal cancer treatment center for lung metastases treatment. Video interview with a leading surgeon in gastrointestinal cancer treatment surgery. Lung metastases and liver metastases in colorectal cancer happen in 50% of all patients.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: What is the recent progress in treatment of stage 4 colorectal cancer with liver and lung metastases? How to get the best treatment for lung and liver metastases in colon cancer? Long-term survival of stage 4 colon cancer patients with pulmonary metastases is possible. Lung metastases treatment in colorectal cancer.
We already discussed liver metastases in colorectal cancer. But lungs can also be affected by metastatic disease. Lung metastases in colon cancer previously precluded patients from surgical treatment of colon cancer. But now it is possible to resect lung metastases and other extra-hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer.
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD: Lung metastases resection provides long-term survival benefit in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: What is your experience with treatment of metastatic lesions in colorectal cancer? Extra-hepatic metastases treatment in colon cancer.
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD: Sometimes stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer patients present with liver and lung metastases. We usually do this. We resect both liver and lung metastases at the same time with thoracic surgeons. Or we resect liver and lung metastases from colon cancer sequentially.
We use sequential resection if a major operation is required. Then we remove metastatic lesions above or below the diaphragm.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: You do surgery to remove liver and lung metastases in colorectal cancer patients. You work together with thoracic surgeons at the same time. You operate without staging the tumor first.
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD: That is correct.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Do you see a significant survival benefit in colorectal cancer patients with metastatic disease in two organs?
Dr. Martin Schilling, MD: We don't have large survival data on those techniques. We resect lung and liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer. But I'm convinced that with improved surgical techniques, we will see better survival of patients with lung and liver metastases.
There is a decreased mortality during the surgical operation and decreased complication rates. Just as we have seen better survival of patients with liver metastases from colorectal stage 4 cancer. Surgery can lead to long-term survival in lung metastases in stage 4 colon cancer. Liver and lung metastases in colon cancer differ from all other cancers.