There are several colon cancer treatment options. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.Many colon cancer patients are advised to undergo more than one treatment. Colon cancer patients are also advised to get a second opinion about their diagnosis and treatment plan.
The cancer type and stage as well as the overall health condition of the patient are some of the factors that usually affect the choice and decision about which available treatment option is best.
Colon Cancer Surgery
The primary treatment often given to colon cancer patients is surgery. This treatment involves surgically removing a part or the entire colon.
The part of the colon to be removed depends mainly on the location and particular characteristics of the tumor. Surgery may also be performed to relieve the symptoms of bowel obstruction.
After colon cancer surgery, the patient may be advised to receive other forms of treatment. Thus, patients are required to regularly visit a cancer specialist or gastroenterologist. These follow-up visits will allow the cancer health team to check if there are newly formed cancers.
The follow-up visits usually include colonoscopy within three months after the surgery has been performed, colonoscopy 1 year after the surgery and colonoscopy every 3 years after the surgery. The patient is also required to undergo annual tests for occult blood in the stool followed by colonoscopy if the result of the test for occult blood is positive.
Colon Cancer Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is usually advised after the surgery to prolong survival for patients whose colon cancer has already spread to other areas of the body, particularly near the lymph nodes.
In its most general sense, chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill the cancer cells spreading in other parts of the body. It also refers to the use of antineoplastic drugs or the combination of antineoplastic drugs into a standardized treatment regimen.
Colon Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy after the surgery does not really help colon cancer patients according to some medical specialists. This is often advised to prolong the survival for patients with rectal cancer.
If this treatment is given before the surgery, it may possibly reduce the size of the tumor as well as the risk of the cancer coming back after the treatment.
