Treatment
Once colon cancer is found, staging tests are performed to find out if the cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer.
Treatments include:
Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment. It requires removal of the cancerous tumor and nearby colon or rectum tissue. It may also involve nearby lymph nodes.
Colectomy
In most cases, the healthy portions of the colon or rectum are reconnected. Sometimes they cannot be joined. In this case, a temporary or permanent colostomy is necessary. This is a surgical opening through the abdomen into the colon. Body waste can exit here into a special bag.
Radiation Therapy
This is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is directed at the site of the tumor from a source outside the body. It is used alone or in combination with chemotherapy in rectal cancer.
Chemotherapy
This therapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be given in many forms, including pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells. It can also kill some healthy cells.
If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, follow your doctor's instructions .
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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