therapies buying time for metastatic colorectal cancer patients
henry klumak had a crippling fear of needles his entire...
nov 12 2019
3 minute read
henry klumak says a positive attitude and a proactive approach have been instrumental in keeping him going.
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
henry klumak had a crippling fear of needles his entire life. but when the montreal native was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (mcrc) that had spread to his liver in december 2016, he knew that he had a far bigger challenge ahead.
“the next day i had a blood test. i put out my arm without hesitation. i knew i had to get over my fear to deal with what lay ahead.”
from the day he was given his diagnosis, klumak was ready to do whatever it took to keep going. “i immediately thought it was a death sentence with no solutions, but my dedicated team of doctors and surgeons gave me the hope and support we all needed.”
the diagnosis came as a complete shock. he was a 55-year-old accounting professional with his own firm, an active lifestyle, and a close-knit family. an avid runner who didn’t smoke or drink, klumak was seemingly the picture of health.
a severe stomach ache changed all that. since then, he has undergone multiple rounds of intense chemotherapy and surgeries, and countless visits to clinics and hospitals. he is currently undergoing targeted chemotherapy sessions to his liver, as well as taking an oral cancer therapy between sessions.
he has also had to make changes to his lifestyle in the past three years, such as merging his practice to provide more depth of resources for his clients, switching from running to strength training, and at times limiting his social activities. “i can really only make short-term travel plans right now because i never know what or when the next form of treatment will be.”
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colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer in canada. recent statistics canada estimates suggest that 26,300 canadians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and 9,500 will die from it. a 2017 study across eight provinces found that of those diagnosed, over half were already in advanced or metastatic stages.
while death rates from colorectal cancer are on the decline, “the number of cases continues to grow,” says dr. petr kavan, medical oncologist and associate professor, mcgill university in montreal. ““colorectal cancer has become a huge socioeconomic health problem. part of that can be attributed to the aging population. that being said, we are also seeing more adults younger than 50 years old with more aggressive cancers.”.
“the reasons for this increase are not well understood, but studies suggest that lifestyle habits, lack of early screening and increasing rates of obesity and diabetes might be contributing factors.”
the survival time for mcrc has been historically low, but it may be improved through a combination of drug treatments, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, dr. kavan notes. “the drugs are not life-saving on their own. but they can slow the growth and spread of cancer cells in order to buy time using what is available in the hopes that new discoveries will make a difference.”
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barry stein, president of colorectal cancer canada in montreal, considers himself to be a “rare bird”, having been among the few that have survived metastatic crc for more than 25 years. a growing number like henry are becoming long-term survivors.”
however, progress in treatment has been slow over those years, “in the past five years, only two therapies for mcrc have been authorized for sale by health canada and even fewer are reimbursed by the provinces,” he says. “things needs to change; more research is sorely needed, along with a more proactive approach to early screening.”
one promising area is immuno-oncology as part of the treatment regime, dr. kavan says. “there is a growing number of clinical trials taking place today. we are seeing encouraging results from potential combinations with other drugs, chemotherapy and/or radiation.”
progress is something that klumak is grateful to see, as he recently became a grandfather for the first time. ever the optimist, he says a positive attitude and a proactive approach have been instru-mental in keeping him going. “as long as i can follow a day to day routine of going to the gym, working at the office, and being with family and friends, i’m happy.“
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perhaps the most important lesson he has learned is the value of support from his family, friends and medical specialists. “the hardest thing for me was taking a step back and relying on others – mostly notably my wife, who has been a rock and the greatest support for me and our children. you have to change your mindset and take care of yourself first and let others help you.”
for more information, visit colorectalcancercanada.com
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a research-based pharmaceutical company.
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