Medication
- The best treatment for colorectal cancer is prevention. ...
- Include 25–30 grams of fiber in your diet every day and avoid processed foods or things that are high in saturated fat, such as red meat and pork. ...
- If you have an immediate relative who has had colon cancer, start getting screened 10 years earlier than when your relative was diagnosed. ...
Procedures
You might get chemotherapy as a tablet over 2 weeks, intravenously over several hours or days, or both. It’s given in cycles of 2 to 3 weeks for up to 6 months, based on how well it’s working. Maintenance chemotherapy is when you get smaller doses over longer periods of time.
Therapy
Treatment Options
- Endoscopic Treatment. Often, polyps are safely removed during a colonoscopy. ...
- Surgery. The treatment of choice for colon cancer is surgical resection, which involves removing the cancer through surgery.
- Chemotherapy. ...
Nutrition
Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best. Screening Guidelines. Regular screening, beginning ...
See more
How to cure colorectal cancer?
How long is chemotherapy for colon cancer?
What are the options for colon cancer?
What should I know about screening for colorectal cancer?
What is the most common treatment for colon cancer?
Surgery. Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. It is often called surgical resection. This is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer.
What is the first treatment for colon cancer?
People with colon cancers that have not spread to distant sites usually have surgery as the main or first treatment. Chemotherapy may also be used after surgery (called adjuvant treatment). Most adjuvant treatment is given for about 6 months.
How treatable is colon cancer?
Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of the patients.
What kind of medicine do they give you for colon cancer?
Some drugs commonly used for colorectal cancer include:5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)Capecitabine (Xeloda), a pill that is changed into 5-FU once it gets to the tumor.Irinotecan (Camptosar)Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)Trifluridine and tipiracil (Lonsurf), a combination drug in pill form.
At what stage of colon cancer do symptoms appear?
Colon cancer symptoms are more noticeable in stages 3 and 4. In addition to the above symptoms, you might also experience: excessive fatigue. unexplained weakness.
Does colon cancer spread fast?
Once cancer has developed in the colon, its progression will vary according to the cellular makeup of the tumor and other factors, such as the age and overall health of the patient. The general progression of colon cancer tends to be slow, but it is still a serious disease that warrants prompt medical attention.
How is colon cancer removed?
A colectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the colon. Nearby lymph nodes are also removed. If only part of the colon is removed, it's called a hemicolectomy, partial colectomy, or segmental resection. The surgeon takes out the part of the colon with the cancer and a small segment of normal colon on either side.
What is the main cause of colon cancer?
Colon cancer may be linked to a high-fat, low-fiber diet and to a high intake of red meat. Some studies have found that the risk does not drop if you switch to a high-fiber diet, so this link is not yet clear. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are other risk factors for colorectal cancer.
How long do you live after being diagnosed with colon cancer?
For colon cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate for people is 64%. If the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, the survival rate is 91%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 72%.
How long can you live with untreated colon cancer?
The results showed the median survival of patients to be 24 months (range 16–42). One-year survival was found to be 65% while the 2-year survival was found to be 25%. A satisfactory quality of life was also observed.
Is colon cancer treatable if caught early?
“Overall, colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and if detected early, it's also one of the most curable types of cancer,” Dr. Lipman notes. Up to 85% of colorectal cancers could be prevented or successfully treated if everyone who is eligible for a colonoscopy got screened.
What are usually the first symptoms of colon?
Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely. General abdominal discomfort, such as frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness and/or cramps. Constant feeling of fatigue or tiredness.
Treating Stage 0 Colon Cancer
Since stage 0 colon cancers have not grown beyond the inner lining of the colon, surgery to take out the cancer is often the only treatment needed....
Treating Stage I Colon Cancer
Stage I colon cancers have grown deeper into the layers of the colon wall, but they have not spread outside the colon wall itself or into the nearb...
Treating Stage II Colon Cancer
Many stage II colon cancers have grown through the wall of the colon, and maybe into nearby tissue, but they have not spread to the lymph nodes.Sur...
Treating Stage III Colon Cancer
Stage III colon cancers have spread to nearby lymph nodes, but they have not yet spread to other parts of the body.Surgery to remove the section of...
Treating Stage IV Colon Cancer
Stage IV colon cancers have spread from the colon to distant organs and tissues. Colon cancer most often spreads to the liver, but it can also spre...
Treating Recurrent Colon Cancer
Recurrent cancer means that the cancer has come back after treatment. The recurrence may be local (near the area of the initial tumor), or it may b...
How does chemotherapy help with colon cancer?
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer is larger or has spread to the lymph nodes. In this way, chemotherapy may kill any cancer cells that remain in the body and help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
What is the procedure to check for colon cancer?
Colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy , the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. If your signs and symptoms indicate that you could have colon cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more tests and procedures, including:
What tests are needed for colon cancer?
Staging helps determine what treatments are most appropriate for you. Staging tests may include imaging procedures such as abdominal, pelvic and chest CT scans.
What is the earliest stage of colon cancer?
At its earliest stage (stage 0), colon cancer is limited to the inner lining of your colon. As colon cancer progresses, it can grow through your colon and extend to nearby structures. The most advanced stage of colon cancer (stage IV) indicates cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the liver or lungs.
How to tell what stage of colon cancer you have?
The stages of colon cancer are indicated by Roman numerals that range from 0 to IV, with the lowest stages indicating cancer that is limited to the lining of the inside of the colon.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells from recognizing the cancer cells.
How does radiation therapy work?
Radiation therapy uses powerful energy sources, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. It might be used to shrink a large cancer before an operation so that it can be removed more easily. When surgery isn't an option, radiation therapy might be used to relieve symptoms, such as pain.
What is the best treatment for colon cancer?
If you have colon cancer, your treatment team will include medical oncologists, surgeons and radiation oncologists. These specialists will work together to develop the best treatment plan for your condition. Colon cancer treatment will depend on how early the cancer is caught. Sometimes, your doctor can remove polyps during a colonoscopy ...
What is the treatment for gastrointestinal cancer?
Other treatment options for late stage gastrointestinal cancers may include cytoreductive (debulking) surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
What happens after colon cancer surgery?
Following colon cancer surgery, vigilant monitoring is a critical part of follow-up care. There is a risk of recurrence, especially if the cancer involved the lymph nodes. After your surgery, your doctor will see you at the following times:
What is the treatment for cancer after surgery?
This is called neoadjuvant therapy. In more advanced cancers, you may need a course of chemotherapy following your surgery. This type of chemotherapy is generally administered on an outpatient basis. Chemoradiation (chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy) may also be used after surgery.
What percentage of colon cancer patients have localized disease?
Some patients with early stage disease may also receive chemotherapy after surgery. For patients with localized colon cancer, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy drugs travel through the bloodstream to destroy tumor cells that may have broken away from original tumor and could begin to grow again elsewhere in the body. They may be administered orally or intravenously. Chemotherapy can be used at various stages of colon cancer treatment.
Where does colon cancer spread?
When colon cancer metastasizes (spreads), it usually appears in the liver. It may also spread to the lungs, brain, peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) and/or distant lymph nodes. For patients with this type of late stage disease, the five-year survival rate is 14 percent.
How is colorectal cancer treated?
Colorectal cancer can also be treated using drugs, which can be given by mouth or directly into the bloodstream. These are called systemic treatments because they can reach cancer cells throughout almost all the body. Depending on the type of colorectal cancer, different types of drugs might be used, such as: Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer.
What is local treatment for colorectal cancer?
Local treatments treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. These treatments are more likely to be useful for earlier stage cancers (smaller cancers that haven't spread), but they might also be used in some other situations. Types of local treatments used for colorectal cancer include:
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment.
What kind of doctor treats colorectal cancer?
These doctors could include: A gastroenterologist: a doctor who treats disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI or digestive) tract. A surgical oncologist (oncologic surgeon): a doctor who uses surgery to treat cancer.
What is the difference between a radiation oncologist and a cancer oncologist?
A colorectal surgeon: a doctor who uses surgery to treat diseases of the colon and rectum. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy. A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy ...
Why is communicating with your cancer team important?
Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life. Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, ...
Why is it important to discuss treatment options with your doctor?
Making treatment decisions. It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. It’s also very important to ask questions if there's anything you’re not sure about.
What is colon cancer?
Key Points. Colon cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the colon. Health history affects the risk of developing colon cancer. Signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool or a change in bowel habits. Tests that examine the colon and rectum are used to diagnose colon cancer.
What are the risk factors for colon cancer?
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include the following: Having a family history of colon or rectal cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child). Having a personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary.
Where does colon cancer spread?
Cancer has spread from the mucosa of the colon wall to the submucosa or to the muscle layer. In stage I colon cancer, cancer has formed in the mucosa (innermost layer) of the colon wall and has spread to the submucosa (layer of tissue next to the mucosa) or to the muscle layer of the colon wall.
How do you know if you have colon cancer?
Signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool or a change in bowel habits. These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by colon cancer or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following: A change in bowel habits. Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool.
Where are abnormal cells found in the colon?
Abnormal cells are shown in the mucosa of the colon wall. In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the mucosa (innermost layer) of the colon wall. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.
How does chemo work?
When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle , the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body ( systemic chemotherapy ). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas ( regional chemotherapy ).
Which system is cancer in?
Lymph system. The cancer gets into the lymph system , travels through the lymph vessels, and forms a tumor ( metastatic tumor) in another part of the body. Blood. The cancer gets into the blood, travels through the blood vessels, and forms a tumor (metastatic tumor) in another part of the body.
What are the best treatments for colon cancer?
Complementary therapies. Acupuncture and massage may help ease some of the side effects of colon cancer and chemo. Researchers are also exploring whether different diets may help reduce symptoms. Keep in mind that there are no known alternative "cures" for colon cancer.
How to treat colon cancer in liver?
Your doctor may suggest one of these techniques if your colon cancer has spread to your liver. Immunotherapy. This treatment relies on vaccines that use your body's immune system to fight cancer more effectively. Some of these may prevent colon cancer from coming back.
What is the gold standard for colon cancer?
Surgery: The Gold Standard. Surgery is often the first step in treatment. It's how doctors remove the tumor and part of the colon. They may also remove lymph nodes at the same time. "Surgery is a crucial part of treatment for most patients with stage I, II, and III colon cancer, and many with stage IV," Dietz says.
How old was Jennifer Marrone when she was diagnosed with colon cancer?
When Jennifer Marrone of San Diego, CA, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at age 30, she didn't just want to know what her treatment options were. "I wanted to know how they were going to affect my life," says Marrone, who's now 35. She was pleased when her oncologist at UC San Diego Health gave her several suggestions for medications ...
What to do if you have a tumor removed during surgery?
If you have very small tumors that are removed during surgery, doctors may decide to take a "watch and wait" approach. They'll monitor you for new signs of cancer. Chemotherapy ("Chemo"). Your doctor will use drugs to fight cancer. You might take some medications by mouth; you'll get others through your veins.
What is the best way to kill cancer cells?
Radiation. This technique uses high-energy rays (like X-rays) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used before surgery or after surgery if doctors think cancer cells have been left behind. Radiation lowers the odds your cancer will return.
Can colon cancer come back?
Some of these may prevent colon cancer from coming back. In some clinical trials, immunotherapy has helped patients with advanced cancer stay in remission for a long time. Ask your doctor if you may be eligible for a clinical trial. Complementary therapies.
What is the best treatment for colorectal cancer?
Chemotherapy drugs used to treat colorectal cancer. Some drugs commonly used for colorectal cancer include: Capecitabine (Xeloda), a pill that is changed into 5-FU once it gets to the tumor. Most often, combinations of 2 or 3 of these drugs are used. Sometimes, chemo drugs are given along with a targeted therapy drug.
What is chemo treatment?
Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer. Chemotherapy (chemo) is treatment with anti-cancer drugs that may be injected into a vein or taken by mouth. These drugs travel through the bloodstream and reach most parts of the body. Chemo is often used to treat colorectal cancer. Chemo may be used at different times during treatment for colorectal cancer:
What is chemo given into the liver?
Hepatic artery infusion, or chemo given directly into the hepatic artery, is an example of regional chemotherapy sometimes used for cancer that has spread to the liver. Chemo drugs for colon or rectal cancer that are given into a vein (IV), can be given either as an injection over a few minutes or as an infusion over a longer period of time.
Why is adjuvant chemo given after surgery?
The goal is to kill cancer cells that might have been left behind at surgery because they were too small to see, as well as cancer cells that might have escaped from the main colon or rectal cancer to settle in other parts of the body but are too small to see on imaging tests.
How does regional chemo work?
Regional chemotherapy: Drugs are put right into an artery that leads to the part of the body with the cancer. This focuses the chemo on the cancer cells in that area. It reduces side effects by limiting the amount of drug reaching the rest of your body.
How long does chemo last?
Adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemo is often given for a total of 3 to 6 months, depending on the drugs used. The length of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer depends on how well it is working and what side effects you have.
How is chemo given?
How is chemotherapy given? You can get chemotherapy in different ways to treat colorectal cancer. Systemic chemotherapy: Drugs are put right into your blood through a vein or you take them by mouth. The drugs enter your bloodstream and reach almost all areas of your body.
What drugs are used to treat colon cancer?
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a protein that helps cancer cells grow. Drugs that target EGFR can be used to treat some advanced colon or rectal cancers. These include: 1 Cetuximab (Erbitux) 2 Panitumumab (Vectibix)
What are the side effects of a hole in the colon?
Rare but possibly serious side effects include blood clots, severe bleeding, holes forming in the colon (called perforations ), heart problems, kidney problems, and slow wound healing. If a hole forms in the colon it can lead to severe infection and surgery may be needed to fix it.
How often do you give panitumumab?
These include: Cetuximab (Erbitux) Panitumumab (Vectibix) Both of these drugs are given by IV infusion, either once a week or every other week. These drugs typically don't work by themselves in colorectal cancers that have mutations (defects) in the KRAS, NRAS or BRAF gene.
How often do you give Bevacizumab?
Bevacizumab (Avastin) Ramucirumab (Cyramza) Ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap) These drugs are given as infusions into your vein (IV) every 2 or 3 weeks, in most cases along with chemotherapy. When combined with chemo, these drugs can often help people with advanced colon or rectal cancers live longer.
What is the best treatment for a rash?
An antibiotic cream or ointment may be needed to help limit the rash and related infections. Developing this rash often means the cancer is responding to treatment. People who develop this rash often live longer, and those who develop more severe rashes also seem to respond better than those with a milder rash.
Can colon cancer be tested for other gene mutations?
Some colon or rectal cancers that have spread might be tested for other gene mutations to see if different targeted drug combinations may be helpful. To learn about these newer treatment options, see What’s New In Colorectal Cancer Research?
Can cetuximab slow the growth of colorectal cancer?
This drug, when given with cetuximab (see above), can shrink or slow the growth of colorectal cancer in some people whose cancer has spread. The combination of these two drugs also appears to help people with advanced colorectal cancer live longer. This drug is taken as pills or capsules, once a day.
What is the best treatment for colon cancer?
The type of surgery used depends on the stage (extent) of the cancer, where it is in the colon, and the goal of the surgery. Any type of colon surgery needs to be done on a clean and empty colon. You will be put on a special diet before surgery ...
What is used to remove cancer from the inside of the colon?
Tools are used through the colonoscope to remove small cancers on the inside lining of the colon along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue on the wall of colon. When cancer or polyps are taken out this way, the doctor doesn't have to cut into the abdomen (belly) from the outside.
What is the top end of the colon called?
This usually is the same type of colectomy that’s done to remove the cancer, but instead of reconnecting the ends of the colon, the top end of the colon is attached to an opening (called a stoma) made in the skin of the abdomen. Stool then comes out of this opening.
What is the procedure to remove a part of the colon called?
Colectomy. A colectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the colon. Nearby lymph nodes are also removed. If only part of the colon is removed, it's called a hem icolectomy, partial colecto my, or segmental resection. The surgeon takes out the part of the colon with the cancer and a small segment of normal colon on either side.
Why does my bowel take so long to wake up after colon surgery?
This is called an ileus. It might be caused by the anesthesia or the actual handling of the bowel during the operation .
How much of the colon is removed after colon cancer surgery?
The surgeon takes out the part of the colon with the cancer and a small segment of normal colon on either side. Usually, about one-fourth to one-third of the colon is removed, depending on the size and location of the cancer. The remaining sections of colon are then reattached.
What is the goal of colectomy?
The goal of either of these procedures is to remove the tumor in one piece. If some cancer is left behind or if, based on lab tests, the tumor is thought to have a chance to spread, a type of colectomy (see below) might be the next surgery.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment