The path breaking contraption functions by instantaneously spotting the presence of malignant cells in so-dubbed surgical smoke, the gas produced during cutting or cauterising tissue during surgery.

The prompt response would mean that the doctors could be certain they have eradicated all malignant growth that could be skulking in the body.

Surgery is the crucial part of majority of the cancer treatments. However, it could be quite tricky for surgeons to be sure that they have taken out the entire tumour.

Currently, scans are done of the tumour to determine ahead of time, what they would require removal. In majority of the situations, the surgeons incise few centimetres more of the adjacent tissues in order to be on the safer side.

However, the procedure is still quite rudimentary and the risk of remnant cancerous cells within the body is quite high.

The newest innovation, by researchers from the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, could be a potent way out. The scientists have employed an electroscalpel – an appliance that emits waste vapours during incision through the tissue – and connected to an apparatus known as a mass spectrometer – a kind of equipment normally employed in the lab for chemical investigation. It could detect thousands of varied kinds of molecules by examining their mass and electrical charge.

It is common knowledge that malignant tissues have a diverse chemical outline in comparison to normal tissues. However, till lately, there has been no available means of examining it during the time of surgery.

The German group of scientists have detected that the suction of surgical fumes into the mass spectrometer could provide instantaneous response as to whether the tissue being incised is malignant or not.

They evolved a means of rendering this into a body map that appears on to a screen in the operating room.

Professor Zoltan Takats, who is helming the research, states that there is no direct data available of the tumor presence during the course of the cancer surgery. Hence, they intend to furnish the surgeons with a tool that would help them instantly test any kind of dubious presence during the course of the surgery itself.

• A potent new-fangled treatment that employs light is presently undergoing test in the investigational phase at the University College London for the effectual treatment of head, neck and breast cancers.

The innovatory novel therapy dubbed PCI (photochemical internalisation) could firstly be available to British patients.

During the treatment, a chemical known as photosensitiser is firstly injected into the cancer cells. This chemical is known to elicit a strong, violent reaction when a laser ray is directed towards it.

During the next step of the procedure, the cancer-combatant drug known as bleomycin is injected. Bleomycin is a drug that has previously been employed, however, alike several cancer treatments, it could mar normal tissues alongside cancerous tissues and lead to disagreeable side-effects, like nausea and weariness.

With the novel therapy, as soon as the drug molecules are placed in position close to the cancer cells, a laser beam is directed onto the body for activating the photosensitive chemical.

This shatters the cancer cells internally and facilitates the easy seepage of bleomycin that aids in destroying the cancer cells more effectually.

The staging of the cancer is the extent of cancer proliferation. When colon cancer gets diagnosed, the doctor would ascertain the stage in which it lies in order to decide the best course of treatment. The stages of colon cancer include:

• Stage 0 (Duke A stage) – The foremost stage wherein the cancer is restricted to the mucosa or inner lining of the colon or rectum – additionally known as carcinoma in situ.
• Stage I (Duke B stage) – When cancer has spread from the inner lining of the colon or rectum, but has still not reached past the rectum or colon wall.
• Stage II (Duke C stage) – The cancer has metastasized through or within the colon or rectum wall though not yet spread to the close by lymph nodes.
• Stage III (Duke D stage) – The cancer has spread to the close by lymph nodes, though other body parts are still spared.
• Stage IV (Duke E stage) – When the cancer has metastasized to other regions of the body, inclusive of the other organs like the liver, the membrane that lines the stomach cavity, lungs or ovary.
• Recurrent – The cancer has relapsed subsequent to treatment and could majorly impinge on the rectum, colon or other areas of the body. Researchers have uncovered that the occurrence of biomarker in the regional lymph nodes is a self-determining interpreter of disease recurring in those with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

The line of treatment is decided on the basis of varied factors like the size and location, the cancer staging, if or not it is recurring, and the present general health condition of the patient. Treatment alternatives involve chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

• Surgery – This is the most widely used treatment method for colorectal cancer wherein the malignant tumors and any lymph nodes in their vicinity would be taken out. The lymph nodes are removed during the operative procedure as they are the foremost location where the cancers tend to proliferate to. At the end of the operative procedure the bowel is sutured. In particular cases, the rectum might need to be totally removed and a colostomy bag would then be attached as a substitute for drainage purposes. The colostomy bag is used in collection of feces and is normally placed provisionally – at times it might be a long-standing measure when the ends of the bowels cannot be joined. In case of early cancer diagnosis, the surgery might be the sole treatment essential in curing colorectal cancer. The surgery would aid in allaying the symptoms even if it occasionally could not cure the cancer.
• Chemotherapy – In this procedure a chemical or medicine is given either orally or intravenously for annihilating the cancerous cells. It is generally a pre-surgery procedure in order to shrivel the tumor. A study revealed that advanced colon cancer cases that were given chemotherapy and that had a family history of the disease, were observed to have a notably lower probability of cancer relapse and fatality.
• Radiotherapy – Radiotherapy employs high-power radiation rays for obliterating the cancer cells, and additionally impedes their proliferation. This form of treatment is widely used in treating rectal cancer or as a pre-surgery procedure for shrinking the tumors. At times a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are offered following surgery for lowering the likelihood of a relapse. Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center at Milwaukee have discovered that the CXCL12 protein that is usually responsible for controlling movements of the intestinal cells have the potential of impeding the spread of colorectal cancer.

Prognosis (Chances of Recovery)

If not treated, the malignant tumors would metastasize to other areas of the body. The likelihood of total recovery depends majorly on how promptly the cancer was detected and treated. The recovery would depend on numerous factors like:

• The staging of the cancer during the time of detection.
• If a hole or obstruction was formed in the colon due to the cancer.
• Whether the cancer has relapsed.
• The overall health condition of the patient.

Colorectal Cancer Prevention:

The likelihood of developing colorectal cancer could be majorly lowered by adopting the following strategies:

• Undergoing routine screenings – This is particularly important when one has previously developed colorectal cancer or one is past sixty years of age, having a family history of cancer or having Crohn’s disease. Few experts have stated that people should carry out regular screening once they have crossed fifty years of age.
• Nutrition – Consuming daily diet rich in fiber, fruits, veggies and good-quality carbohydrates. Lowering or if possible, stopping the intake of red and processed meat. Substituting saturated fats with optimal-quality fats like avocado, olive oil, fish oil and nuts. But a confounding study has revealed that in spite of vegans having an overall reduced risk of getting cancers, their chances of developing colorectal cancer is much higher in comparison to meat consumers.
• Exercise – Inculcating moderate forms of physical activity on a regular basis has proven to have a major affect on decreasing the chances of developing colorectal cancer.
• Maintaining idyllic bodyweight – Maintaining a healthy body weight as those who are overweight or obese increase their chances of developing several cancers inclusive of colorectal cancer.

Surgery

Surgery is the most prevalent form of treatment for Wilms’ tumor wherein the doctor might remove the cancerous growth employing one of the below stated procedures.

• Partial Nephrectomy – This procedure is conducted for removal of the cancer and a section of the kidney that is situated around it.  It usually is done in just rare cases when there is damage done to the other kidney or has previously been taken out.
• Simple Nephrectomy – This procedure involves the complete removal of the kidney. The other kidney would then take on the role of purifying the blood.
• Radical Nephrectomy – In this procedure there is total removal of kidney, adjoining tissues and some of the lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the usage of drugs administered in either pill form or intravenously for annihilating cancer cells. Chemotherapy is also known as systemic treatment as the drugs on entry into the bloodstream, pass through the body and can stamp out cancer cells all through the body .When chemotherapy is offered as a post-operative procedure then it is known as adjuvant therapy.

In case elevated doses of chemotherapy are employed for killing the cancer cells, then the high doses could mar the blood-producing tissue present in the bones or bone marrow. If elevated doses of chemotherapy are required for treating the cancer, then the bone marrow might be extracted from the bones prior to therapy and kept in the freezer till its need arises. Subsequent to chemotherapy, the bone marrow is intravenously reinstated. This is known as autologous bone marrow reinfusion.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy makes use of X-rays or other forms of high-power rays for annihilating cancer cells and shrinking the tumors. Radiation done for treating Wilms’ tumor generally is given through a machine located outside the body, also known as radiation therapy. Radiation might either be employed prior to or following surgery and chemotherapy.

Some patients tend to develop a second, altered form of the cancer after several years due to the outcome of being treated with chemotherapy and radiation. On-going clinical trials are intended at ascertaining whether chemotherapy and radiation could be employed in lower doses.

Stage-Wise Treatment

Treatment offered is dependent on the stage of the tumor, cell type or histology and the child’s overall health condition and age. A standardised treatment is adopted on the basis of its efficacy in several patients in earlier studies or investigational. The doctor might suggest that the child partake in a clinical trial – a research project that involves new investigational treatments. Several patients do not seem to be cured using standard therapy and there may be undue number of side effects experienced with some of the standard treatments. Due to these reasons, clinical trials are intended for testing novel, better treatment alternatives.

Stage I – In case the tumor bears a ‘favourable’ cell type or the child is having anaplastic Wilms’ tumor, then surgery for removal of cancer would be the probable line of treatment followed by chemotherapy. Surgery and subsequently radiation therapy and chemotherapy would be the probable line of treatment in case the child is having either clear cell sarcoma of the kidney or rhabdoid tumor.

Stage II – In case the tumor bears a ‘favourable’ cell type, the treatment would mostly involve surgery for removal of cancer, after which chemotherapy would be given. In case the child is having an ‘unfavourable’ cell type like anaplasia, clear cell sarcoma or rhabdoid tumor of the kidney, then the treatment might include surgery that would be followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Stage III – The treatment would possibly be surgery after which radiation therapy and chemotherapy would be given. At times, it is not possible to remove the cancer via surgery as it is located in close proximity to vital organs or blood vessels or due to its overbearingly large size. In such situations, only biopsy is conducted following which chemotherapy might be suggested that may or may not include radiation. Subsequent to the cancer being minimised by treatment, surgery would be conducted, that would be followed by further chemotherapy and radiation therapy sessions.

Stage IV – The line of treatment would generally be surgery that would be followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In case there has been cancer metastasis or the cancer spreading to the lungs, then further chemotherapy sessions might be given.

Stage V – If cancer has metastasized to both the lungs, generally it is unfeasible to remove both the kidneys. A portion of the cancer from both the kidneys and adjacent lymph nodes might be removed for checking the presence of cancer. Subsequent to surgery, chemotherapy is conducted for shrinking the tumor. Following reduction of the cancer, a second operative procedure might be conducted for removing major parts of the cancer, while attempting to leave as much part of the kidneys as possible. Surgery might be followed by additional chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Persistent – In case the cancer has relapsed in the child, the treatment offered would depend on the treatment previously offered, the amount of time transpired following the last treatment, the type of the cancer cells and the location of its re-emergence. Based on these factors, treatment would comprise of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Clinical trials, investigative projects that involve patients, aid in assessing novel treatments, like chemotherapy drugs, novel blends of treatments and bone marrow reinfusion.