When colon cancer metastasizes, or spreads to other parts of the body, it can be more difficult to treat.
For patients with colon cancer that has spread to the liver, Endeavor Health experts have an innovative surgical procedure that delivers targeted, long-term chemotherapy directly to the liver to stop the spread of the disease.
The hepatic artery infusion pump is a vital tool to treat cancer in the liver by directing chemotherapy to the liver over the course of a month. This advanced treatment is only offered by a few oncology programs across the country, including Endeavor Health.
Chemotherapy is typically delivered through a catheter tube with a port in the chest area. This sends the chemo through the vena cava, toward the heart, which circulates the chemo throughout the body.
The hepatic artery perfusion pump sends chemotherapy directly to the liver through the hepatic artery.
The pump, about the size of hockey puck, is surgically implanted under the skin in the belly. The chemo slowly flows to the liver over the course of a month and stays in the liver instead of circulating throughout the body, said George Salti, MD, oncologist and Director of Surgical Oncology at Endeavor Health, who has been performing this innovative procedure since Oct. 8, 2024.
“The hepatic artery infusion pump can be implanted after we remove tumors from the liver to help prevent the cancer from returning,” Dr. Salti said. “It can also directly target tumors that cannot be removed and shrink them or prevent them from growing.”
The pump can deliver a much higher concentration of chemo directly to the liver, while also reducing side effects that patients typically see with whole-body chemotherapy.
“Traditional IV chemotherapy can prevent cancer from spreading or occurring elsewhere in the body. The pump may be used to try to shrink large tumors or reduce the number of tumors, with the hope that they can then be surgically removed,” Dr. Salti said.
It’s important to recognize the symptoms of colorectal cancer and seek medical treatment if they are present. By the time symptoms appear, colorectal cancer is often in a more advanced stage, so quick diagnosis and treatment is important.
Watch for these warning signs:
- A change in bowel habits (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of the stool) that lasts for more than a few days
- Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement that doesn’t go away after having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in stool (may look dark brown or black)
- Cramping, abdominal pain
- Weakness, fatigue
- Weight loss without trying
Everyone should begin routine colon cancer screenings, like colonoscopy, at age 45 (or earlier depending on your family history and individual risk factors). Talk to your primary care provider to learn more about screenings and how to gauge your personal risk.
