Treatments of
Colon Cancer
From the National Cancer Institute
How cancer of the colon is treated
There are treatments for all patients with cancer of the colon. Three kinds of treatments are available:
Surgery is the most common treatment of all stages of cancer of the colon. A doctor may take out the cancer from the colon using one of the following:
Radiation therapy is the use of x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that contain radiation through thin plastic tubes (internal radiation therapy) in the intestine area. Radiation can be used alone or in addition to surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by inserting a needle into a vein. A patient may be given chemotherapy through a tube that will be left in the vein while a small pump gives the patient constant treatment over a period of weeks. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells outside the colon. If the cancer has spread to the liver, the patient may be given chemotherapy directly into the artery going to the liver.
If the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the operation, the patient may be given chemotherapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Chemotherapy given after an operation to a person who has no cancer cells that can be seen is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
Biological treatment tries to get the body to fight cancer. It uses materials made by the body or made in a laboratory to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against disease. Biological treatment is sometimes called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy or immunotherapy.
Treatment by stage
Treatments for cancer of the colon depend on the stage of the disease and the patient's general health.
Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in most parts of the country for most stages of cancer of the colon. To learn more about clinical trials, call the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center at 562-7120.
Treatment may be one of the following:
Treatment is usually surgery (bowel resection) to remove the cancer and join the cut ends of the bowel.
Treatment may be one of the following:
Treatment may be one of the following:
Treatment may be one of the following:
If the cancer has come back (recurred) in only one part of the body, treatment may consist of an operation to take out the cancer. If the cancer has spread to several parts of the body, a doctor may give a patient either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The patient may also choose to participate in a clinical trial testing new chemotherapy drugs or biological therapy.
TO LEARN MORE..... CALL 518 562-7120
The following booklet about cancer of the colon may be helpful:
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Colon
and Rectum
The following general booklets on topics related to cancer may also be helpful:
There are many other places where people can get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. The social service office at a hospital can be checked for local and national agencies that help with getting information about finances, getting to and from treatment, getting care at home, and dealing with problems.
For more information from the National Cancer Institute, please write to this address: