CHENNAI: Apollo Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), organised an educational programme on colorectal cancer for medical professionals. This tie-up will give oncologists access to the latest scientific knowledge and information on patient-centric care strategies. Chennai is the third city where the programme has been rolled out, the first two being Delhi and Mumbai.Colorectal cancer (CRC), also commonly called bowel cancer, is a condition in which malignant cells grow in the tissue of the colon or rectum, forming tumours. In the early stages of CRC, surgery alone may be curative. However, symptoms of CRC are often vague and public awareness about the disease is low. One in four patients is diagnosed only when the cancer has already spread. Colorectal cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer in India, with an estimated 41,535 patients in 2011. Dr T Raja, programme director, Apollo Cancer Institute, stressed the need to keep pace with the latest in terms of treatment of this disease. He said that recent research demonstrates that personalised treatment for CRC can help physicians identify which patients are most likely to benefit from a specific treatment. This breakthrough enables oncologists to select the most appropriate treatment for patients, thus improving long-term outcomes. Speaking on the occasion, director of Klinik for Oncology and Hematology Prof Claus-Henning Kohne said, “This multi-disciplinary approach is part of a broader move to develop more patient-centric treatment strategies in order to improve both the patient’s quality of care and quality of life. In 2012 ESMO plans to establish more educational platforms across the region with a localised curriculum for each country.” This programme provides a platform for knowledge sharing among oncology professionals in Europe and Asia. It also promotes continuing medical education (CME) in colorectal cancer management.
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