New Surgical Treatment Helps Patients

When Colon Cancer Spreads To The Liver

DANBURY — New technology and surgical techniques are giving new hope to treating colon cancer that has spread to the liver.

“It used to be said that once the cancer reached the liver, it was over, but that’s not the case any more,” said Pierre Saldinger, MD, a board-certified surgeon in the department of surgery, and section chief of general surgery at Danbury Hospital.

Now, surgeons can operate on the liver and remove to which where cancer has spread, or metastasized, giving patients a 95 percent survival rate. This is possible because the liver can regenerate itself.

“The reason we can now remove liver sections is that surgical techniques have evolved making it almost bloodless surgery,” he said. Dr Saldinger spoke at a recent Medical Town Meeting sponsored by Danbury Hospital on “Colon Cancer: It’s Treatable.” When cancer has spread from the colon to the liver, with no treatment, a patient will usually live less than a year, according to Dr Saldinger. With chemotherapy, survival can last up to 18 months.

“Surgical removal of the metastasized liver is the only solution for long-term survival and cure.” With surgery, 30 to 40 percent of patients live five years later, and up to 30 percent survive 10 years.

“How do we determine when a tumor can be removed from the liver?” Dr Saldinger asked. The goal is to remove all tumors. The liver remaining has to be large enough to handle the body’s needs. There has to be no instance of underlying liver disease. Medical conditions like heart or lung disease have to be considered, as well as the overall health of the patient.

Colon cancer often spreads to the liver, since cells that are shed from the colon are sent to the liver. Positron Emission Tomography, or PET-Scan, also helps doctors detect cancer earlier. And post-operative techniques, such as inserting a catheter into the liver to deposit a stream of chemotherapy, also makes it possible to treat a recurrence of liver cancer.

Dr Saldinger specializes in benign and cancerous diseases of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. A physician member in the Danbury Office of Physician Services, he can be reached by calling 203-797-7449.