What does colon cancer with resectable or potentially resectable metastasis mean?

In some cases, colon cancer has already spread to other organs, usually the liver or lungs, but the metastases can still be completely removed. In these situations, there is still a chance of a cure.

Treatment is complex and requires close coordination between different specialties such as oncology and surgery. Often, a systemic therapy is performed first to reduce the size of the metastases. This includes:

• chemotherapy
• targeted drugs

The metastases can then be surgically removed or treated locally, for example by ablation (minimally invasive destruction of diseased tissue) or radiation.

If the metastases can be completely removed, the disease can be controlled in the long term or even cured. These cases are impressive examples of the fact that even metastatic colon cancer can now be cured in selected situations – provided that treatment is carried out in experienced centers/networks with an interdisciplinary approach.