Colon Cancer Treatment

Treatment Options

Colon and colorectal cancer treatment options depend on a number of factors. These include the anatomical location, the stage of the colon cancer and the patient's overall and general health.

The accepted standard treatment options for colon and rectal cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Biological therapy is an additional colon cancer treatment option, and usually used in conjunction with other treatments. Surgery is sometimes combined with chemo and radiation therapy.

Colon Surgery

The most common treatment for colon cancer and the primary treatment for most patients is colon surgery. Once the cancer is located, surgery is performed to remove that section of the colon. The remaining sections are then reattached. In the case of rectal cancer the surgical resection may follow chemotherapy and irradiation treatment.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, sometimes called chemo, is used to treat cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells.

Chemotherapy is usually started about a month after colon surgery.
For patients with colon it can be used alone. It is often used in combination with radiation therapy for rectal cancer patients. Chemotherapy is often recommended for stage 2 colon, and usually for stage 3 and stage 4 colon cancer.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, often referred to as radiotherapy, is treatment of disease using x-rays or radioactive substances.

The radiotherapy uses X-rays to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery or shrink large tumors before an operation, thus enabling easier removal. The aim is to destroy or cause damage to the tumor causing only minimal harm to the healthy surrounding tissues.

Biological Therapy

Biotherapy, also referred to as immunotherapy, uses the body's immune system to find and destroy cancer cells in the body.

Biological therapy has contributed to the colon cancer treatment and outcomes have improved with the use of biological agents. These therapies can be used to repair, stimulate and enhance the anticancer functions in the natural immune system. Biotherapy, an optional treatment, can be used after surgery and in combination with other cancer treatments.

DISCLAIMER

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS NOT OFFICIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT REPLACE CONSULTATION WITH A MEDICAL DOCTOR ON COLON CANCER TREATMENT.