Activity Rationale and Purpose
In the United States it is estimated that 148,810 new cases of CRC and 49,960 CRC-related deaths will occur in 2008. Estimated new cases are decreasing because of increased screening, and estimated deaths are decreasing because of improved detection and treatment options. As more and more patients are surviving CRC, health care providers need to understand the impact of both the disease and the treatments on these patients’ quality of life and the issues that surround survivorship. Recent years have seen treatment of CRC that has metastasized to the liver expanding as more options are available to patients who were once considered untreatable. Traditionally, it has been felt that the elderly are not able to tolerate the same treatment regimens as younger patients, but recent clinical trials have shown that aggressive chemotherapy benefits elderly patients with metastatic CRC, with toxicities generally comparable to those observed in younger patients. Health care professionals involved in the treatment of CRC must be well informed of current and emerging data relating to both early and metastatic disease and must be able to develop up-to-date and individualized clinical management strategies to improve patient outcomes.

The overall purpose of this activity is to provide oncology professionals with information on state-of-the-art treatment for CRC, treatment considerations for the elderly, and survivorship issues to assist them in educating, supporting, and caring for patients.