Colorectal Cancer

Facts about Colorectal Cancer:
Colorectal cancer, otherwise known as colon cancer, is one of the most deadly forms of cancer in the U.S. - but it doesn't have to be.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths for men and women combined. Every year, nearly 150,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease, and nearly 60,000 die. That is more lives lost to colorectal cancer than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
The good news is most of these deaths can be prevented using available screening tests and treatments for the disease. This is because colorectal cancer is curable 90% of the time when detected early. In addition, screening tests can be used to detect certain pre-cancerous growths in the colon and rectum allowing them to be removed before they ever develop into cancer.
So please, talk to your physician. Know your personal risks for this disease. This one can be cured!
- from the NCCRA and EIF web pages

Stages of Cancer:
The Stages in any form of Cancer range from 0 to IV.
Stage 0 - the tumor has not spread to nearby tissue.
Stage I - a small invasive cancer without known metastasis.
Stages II & III - more advanced, usually with lymph node involvement.
Stage IV - progressive, typically with metastasis.
Grading involves learning how aggressive the cancer is - ranging from least to most aggressive. The higher the grade, the more aggressive (faster growing) the cancer.
Grades range from I to IV. Cancers that look more aggressive require different treatment.
The stage and grade of the cancer is very important to your choice of treatment options.

In what Stage is Todd?
Todd cancer is in Stage IV because it has metastasized (spread) from his Colon into his abdominal cavity. He will begin his chemotherapy treatment as aggressively as the cancer in his body. Dr. Nahum (the Oncologist from Jersey Shore Medical Center) and Dr. Fuchs (the Oncologist from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute) are working together to create Todd’s treatment plan.