Colorectal Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia

At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Malaysia. We focus not only on treating the disease but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.

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Understanding Colorectal Cancer: Prevalence, Causes, and Prevention

Colorectal cancer or colon cancer, is one of the most prevalent cancers in both men and women worldwide. When colorectal cancer (CRC) is found early, it can often be cured. The death rate from this type of cancer has been declining since the mid-1980s, possibly because it is usually diagnosed earlier now and treatments have improved.

Colorectal cancer or colon cancer, most often begins as a polyp and recognizing and removing precancerous polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. Colon polyps are commonly removed by performing polypectomy during colonoscopy. Most colorectal cancers are called adenocarcinoma. Other types of cancer that occur far less often in the colon or rectum include carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), small cell carcinoma, and lymphoma.

Most colorectal cancers (about 95%) are considered sporadic, meaning the genetic changes develop by chance after a person is born, so there is no risk of passing these genetic mutations on to ones children. Inherited colorectal cancers are less common (about 5%) and occur when genetic mutations are passed down from 1 generation to the next .

Why Choose Onco Life Centre?

Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On

Over 20 Years of
Experience

Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.

Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts

For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.

Unmatched
patient experience

You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.

Treatment Methods

In order to come up with the best treatment for colorectal cancer, our oncologists at Onco Life Centre will review factors such as your pre-existing medical conditions, your overall health and nutritional status, and potential treatment side effects. Treatment options and treatment plans for colorectal cancer follow the recommendations by our colon cancer specialists at Onco Life Centre based on the global NCCN and FDA guidelines.

Surgery for colorectal cancer

Surgical resection is the removal of the tumor, some surrounding healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes. Some patients may be able to have laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. The incisions are smaller and the recovery time is often shorter than with standard colon surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is as effective as conventional colon surgery in removing the cancer. Less often, a person with rectal cancer may need to have a colostomy. Sometimes, the colostomy is only temporary to allow the rectum to heal, but it may be permanent. With modern surgical techniques and the use of chemo-radiation before surgery, most people who receive treatment for rectal cancer do not need a permanent colostomy.

Radiation therapy for colorectal cancer

For rectal cancer, radiation therapy may be used before surgery, called neo-adjuvant therapy, to shrink the tumor so that it is easier to remove. It may also be used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often given at the same time as radiation therapy, called chemo-radiotherapy, to increase the effectiveness of the radiation therapy. Chemo-radiation therapy is often used in rectal cancer before surgery to avoid colostomy or reduce the chance that the cancer will recur.

Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer

Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer destroys cancer cells, usually by stopping the cancer cells ability to grow and divide. Chemotherapy may be given after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. For some people with rectal cancer, chemotherapy is given with radiation therapy before surgery to reduce the size of a rectal tumor and reduce the chance of the cancer returning. Chemotherapy can be used in combination with Targeted Therapy to treat Stage 4 colorectal cancer.

Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer

Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancers specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. To find the most effective treatment, our oncologists at Onco Life Centre may run tumor profiling tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor.

Please click here to learn more about Targeted Therapy.

Anti-angiogenesis Therapy

Anti-angiogenesis therapy is a type of targeted therapy that is focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels. Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to starve the tumor. In 2004, the FDA approved the first anti-angiogenesis monoclonal antibody along with chemotherapy as first-line treatment, for advanced colorectal cancer. An oral anti-angiogenesis tyrosine kinase inhibitor was approved in 2012 for patients with metastatic or Stage 4 colorectal cancer who have already received certain types of chemotherapy and other targeted therapies. Subsequently, newer anti-angiogenesis monoclonal antibodies combined with chemotherapy in the second-line setting for metastatic or Stage 4 colorectal cancer, were approved by the US FDA.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy that stop or slow down the growth of colorectal cancer. Currently, two FDA approved EGFR monoclonal antibodies are recommended for use only in patients with tumors that express non-mutated, or wild type, RAS genes. Our oncologists at Onco Life Centre may test your tumor for other molecular markers, including BRAF, microsatellite instability, and others.

Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer

The role of immunotherapy for advanced colon cancer treatment has been promising. Using immuntherapy in patients with mismatch-repair-deficient mutations or microsatellite instability in their tumors has shown remarkable results. An immunue-checkpoint inhibitor can be used on its own, or in combination with CTLA4 inhibitor for such patients.

Please click here to learn more about Immunotherapy.

Treatment By Stage

In general, stages 0, 1, 2 and 3 colorectal cancer are often curable with surgery. However, many patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer, and some with stage 2, receive chemotherapy after surgery to increase the chance of eliminating the disease. Patients with stage 2 and 3 rectal cancer will also receive radiation therapy with chemotherapy either before or after surgery.

Stage 0 colorectal cancer

The usual treatment is a polypectomy, or removal of a polyp, during a colonoscopy.

Stage 1 colorectal cancer

The usual treatment is a polypectomy, or removal of a polyp, during a colonoscopy.

Stage 2 colorectal cancer

Surgery is often the first treatment. Patients with stage 2 colorectal cancer can talk to our oncologists at Onco Life Centre about whether adjuvant chemotherapy is needed after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. For patients with stage 2 rectal cancer, radiation therapy is usually given in combination with chemotherapy, either before or after surgery.

Stage 3 colorectal cancer

Treatment for stage 3 colon cancer usually involves surgical removal of the tumor followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. For patients with rectal cancer, radiation therapy may be used along with chemotherapy before or after surgery, along with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Metastatic (stage 4) colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer can spread to distant organs, such as the liver, lungs, the tissue called the peritoneum that lines the abdomen, or a woman’s ovaries. Our oncologists at Onco Life Centre will help you tailor your treatment plan, which may include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. If the colorectal cancer has spread only to the liver (colorectal cancer liver metastasis) and if surgery is possible either before or after chemotherapy, there is a chance of complete cure. Even when curing the cancer is not possible, surgery may add months or even years to a person’s life. Determining who can benefit from surgery for cancer that has spread to the liver is often a complicated process that involves doctors of multiple specialties working together to plan the best treatment option. The role of immunotherapy for advanced colon cancer treatment has been promising. Using immuntherapy in patients with mismatch-repair-deficient mutations or microsatellite instability in their tumors has shown remarkable results. An immunue-checkpoint inhibitor can be used on its own, or in combination with CTLA4 inhibitor for such patients.

Transparency You Can Trust

At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with Colorectal Cancer treatment. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:

Chemotherapy

At Onco Life Centre, the cost for treating colorectal cancer using chemotherapy for most of our patients is around MYR4,000 per cycle.

Targeted Therapy:

Adding in Targeted Therapy can go up to MYR9,000, depending on the specific type of targeted therapy drug used.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy can range from MYR10,000 and above depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drugs used.

Screening And Prevention Of Colorectal Cancer

Talk to our oncologists at Onco Life Centre about when screening should begin based on your age and family history of the disease. Using the guidelines below, you should begin colorectal cancer screening earlier and more often if you have any of the following risk factors:

Prior history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps.

Strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (first-degree relative younger than 50 or in 2 first-degree relatives of any age).

Personal history of chronic IBD.

Family history of any hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome.

Your Journey

Start Your Recovery

Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).

First Consultation

On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.

Treatment Day

Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.

Stay on Track

Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.