Optimizing Colorectal Cancer Treatment Through Global Expertise and Multidisciplinary Teams

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• Global Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Treatment
• Cure Potential in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
• The Critical Value of Multidisciplinary Teams
• Barriers to Accessing Modern Cancer Therapies
• The Role of Precision Medicine in Treatment
• The Importance of Seeking Top Cancer Experts
• Full Transcript

Global Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Quality of knowledge about colorectal cancer treatment varies dramatically across the world. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, notes that the field of colon cancer treatment evolves extremely fast. This rapid advancement creates significant gaps between different healthcare systems and regions.

Some countries completely deny patients the best targeted treatments available. Other nations lack access to the latest modern knowledge entirely. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, and Dr. Schmoll discuss how this leads to vastly different patient outcomes globally.

Cure Potential in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

A monumental shift in colorectal cancer treatment is the possibility of cure even in stage 4 disease. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, confirms that curing patients with liver or lung metastases is now an achievable goal. This represents a significant advancement from historical treatment paradigms.

This curative potential is directly tied to access to modern multidisciplinary care strategies. The combination of advanced systemic therapies and sophisticated surgical techniques makes this outcome possible.

The Critical Value of Multidisciplinary Teams

Multidisciplinary teams provide the highest level of evaluation for colorectal cancer patients. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, emphasizes that MD Ts can assess a patient's situation at the best possible level. These teams bring together experts from chemotherapy, surgery, diagnostics, and research.

International teams of independent experts offer crucial second opinions. They provide confidence that a treatment plan is correct or suggest necessary modifications. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, explores how this collaborative approach elevates patient care standards universally.

Barriers to Accessing Modern Cancer Therapies

Financial constraints present massive barriers to optimal colorectal cancer treatment worldwide. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, uses immunotherapy as a prime example. These revolutionary treatments can cost 200,000 to 300,000 Euros per year per patient.

Even in developed countries like the United Kingdom, many new cancer treatments remain unavailable through public systems. The disparity between private and public patient access continues to grow. This economic reality severely limits treatment possibilities for countless patients globally.

The Role of Precision Medicine in Treatment

Precision medicine is taking an increasingly prominent role in colorectal cancer management. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, discusses how personalized treatment approaches hold tremendous promise. Targeted therapies specifically address individual tumor characteristics.

Despite this promise, many patients in advanced medical systems still don't receive optimal treatment. The implementation of precision medicine requires both access to medications and specialized knowledge. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, highlights how this gap affects patient outcomes.

The Importance of Seeking Top Cancer Experts

Patients must actively seek the best experts in colorectal cancer treatment to overcome systemic disparities. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD, stresses that treatment results show very large differences between top cancer experts and local hospitals. This expertise gap significantly impacts survival and quality of life outcomes.

The concentration of knowledge in major cancer centers creates both challenges and opportunities for patients. Seeking second opinions from international multidisciplinary teams can provide life-altering treatment recommendations. This approach helps ensure patients receive care aligned with the latest global standards.

Full Transcript

Quality of knowledge about colorectal cancer treatment is very different across the world. Colon cancer treatment evolves very fast. Cure in stage 4 colorectal cancer with liver or lung metastases is now possible. Some countries deny patients best targeted treatments. Some countries do not have best modern knowledge of colorectal cancer treatment.

Personalized medicine holds much promise in colorectal cancer treatment. Yet we know that many patients even in countries with advanced medical systems do not get optimal cancer treatment. This is where I personally see the value of multidisciplinary international team of experts.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: They can evaluate the given colorectal cancer patient situation. Multidisciplinary teams, MD T's, can evaluate the patient's situation at the best level. Independent international experts can give confidence that the treatment plan is correct. Or they can suggest how to modify it. Top independent experts can suggest additions to the treatment for colorectal cancer, for example.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How do you see the evaluation of colorectal patients in the context of multidisciplinary team?

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: Precision medicine is now taking a larger role in colorectal cancer treatment. It is a good question. Answer has many facets. We think about modern developed countries like the United States. Oncology is very developed in the US.

There are many experts working in private practice or in academic centers. These are real cancer centers. They have conglomerates of experts in chemotherapy, research, all surgical specialities and diagnostics.

Another cancer treatment situation is in countries where oncology is not so much developed. In those countries oncology centers are not really the same as oncology centers in the United States or in France or even Italy. There are many countries where latest cancer treatment medications are not available.

But there are many countries where doctors have no knowledge about what to do for a cancer patient at any given time. They have no real knowledge. It is only very, very limited in some parts of the country or different regions.

The access to modern knowledge about cancer treatment is very different if you go from Europe to Eastern Europe, or from Russia to the United States and to South America. Level of cancer treatment expertise is extremely different.

People around the world do not have same chances of beating cancer. Typical cancer treatment is very expensive. Even in the UK, for example, many new cancer treatments are not available to patients. Private patients are different.

Availability of new cancer medications is a big problem. Yes, it is a big problem. It is happening more and more.

Let's take immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is really highly effective in many cancer types. Immunotherapy is now going to first-line initial treatment of many cancer patients. But cancer immunotherapy is so expensive. It might cost 200,000 or 300,000 Euros per year for one patient.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: This is not affordable for many patients worldwide.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD: Several factors limit the quality, accessibility and possibility of cancer treatment. Patients with cancer must seek the best experts in colorectal cancer treatment. There is very large difference in results of cancer treatment between top cancer experts and local hospitals. Multidisciplinary teams, MD T’s, can evaluate cancer patient’s situation at the best level of expertise.