Quality of treatment of colorectal cancer varies greatly. 9-1

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. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. 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. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. They can evaluate the given colorectal cancer patient situation. multidisciplinary teams, MDT’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? Prof. 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. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. 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. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. 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 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. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. 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. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. 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. 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, MDT’s, can evaluate cancer patient’s situation at the best level of expertise.