an example solid cancer

• Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, affects the digestive system
• Risk factors for colorectal cancer include age, poor diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and family history, including hereditary conditions like FAP and HNPCC
• Symptoms of colorectal cancer include changes in bowel movements, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, blood in stool, anaemia, fatigue, and pelvic pain
• The staging of colorectal cancer is done using the TNM staging system, which assesses the size of the tumor, spread to lymph nodes, and presence of metastases
• Vogelstein's theory of colonic carcinogenesis explains the multistep model of colorectal cancer development, involving genetic changes from adenoma to carcinoma
• Genetic changes associated with colorectal cancer progression include APC loss, K-Ras mutation, and TP53 alterations
• Hereditary forms of colorectal cancer include Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch Syndrome (HNPCC), each with specific genetic mutations
• Personalized medicine in cancer involves screening, monitoring, molecular diagnostics, and targeted therapy based on individual molecular features of the tumor
• Precision medicine in colorectal cancer involves selecting treatment based on the patient's molecular abnormalities, such as genetic mutations
• Companion diagnostics are tests paired with specific drugs to determine patient response and benefit, such as the Therascreen KRAS PCR Kit for colorectal cancer