Once your doctor knows
knows you have Colorectal Cancer, the next step is to determine what type of treatment is best for you. The first treatment you
get (called "initial therapy") may be different for you than for someone else you know with Colorectal Cancer. Along the way,
you may need to have different kinds of treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments. There are many
treatment options available, and you should discuss each of them with your doctor.
Surgery
Surgery may be performed at all
stages of Colorectal Cancer. In early stages, the
gastroenterologist may be able to
remove the cancer without cutting into the abdomen (above your waist). This is called a local excision. The doctor
performs the minor surgery through a slender tube inserted through the rectum and into the colon. If a polyp is found
and removed, it is called a polypectomy. Removing a polyp early on-before cancer cells appear-may prevent cancer from
ever developing.
If a large tumor is found, the surgeon will remove the cancer and a small amount of normal, healthy tissue around it.
This is called bowel or colon resection. The healthy parts of the colon are reattached. A colon resection rarely causes
major digestive problems.
If the colon cannot be reattached, an opening called a stoma will be made on the outside of the body. This allows waste
that can no longer travel through the colon to pass out of the body. This is called a colostomy. Sometimes a colostomy
is only needed until the colon has healed and can be reconnected. A colostomy can have a major impact on lifestyle,
but sometimes it is the only option to preserve your health.
Adjuvant Therapy
The word adjuvant [ADD-joo-vent] means "to help reach a goal." And adjuvant therapy is just that. It's the idea of using
chemotherapy, additional radiation, or other treatments to destroy cancer cells after surgery. The goal is to lower the
risk of the cancer coming back. That's why adjuvant therapy is sometimes referred to as an "insurance policy."
Some patients require adjuvant therapy, while others do not. Only your healthcare team can tell you if it is needed to
treat your condition. To learn more about adjuvant therapy, download
"The Patient's Guide to
Adjuvant Therapy" brochure.
Chemotherapy
Most people have heard of chemotherapy. It's the use of powerful chemicals to kill cancer cells. Scientists have been
working hard to design chemotherapy so that it "targets" only cancer cells. And there have been great improvements over
the years. But even the most advanced chemotherapy drugs still affect normal cells as well as cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is a form of "systemic" therapy. That means it enters the blood, travels through the body, and kills cancer
cells no matter where they are. Chemotherapy is typically used as a type of adjuvant therapy to treat Colorectal Cancer.
It is also used to shrink tumors or relieve symptoms in patients with advanced Colorectal Cancer. This is called
palliative chemotherapy, and it is meant to improve a patient's quality of life while they're living with advanced cancer.
There are many options for chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapies can be given by pill, IV injection, or catheter (a tube
hooked directly into a blood vessel). If you need chemotherapy during the course of treatment, it's a good idea to learn
about the different ways it can be given. Be sure to find out more about XELODA, an oral chemotherapy that's
proven
effective in treating certain types of Colorectal Cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by using high-energy rays pointed at the affected area. It prevents cancer cells
from continuing to grow and divide. Radiation therapy is also known as "brachytherapy" [BRAY-kee-ther-a-py]. It can be
used as an adjuvant therapy to kill cancer cells not seen during surgery. It may also be used to shrink the tumor and
ease symptoms of advanced cancer. Radiation therapy is often used along with chemotherapy to treat cancer.
Biological Therapy
Biological therapy is the use of substances that have an effect on the body's immune system. These are used to repair,
stimulate, or increase the body's natural ability to fight infections and cancer.
For more information about treatment options, download the free
"A Patient's Guide to Understanding Colorectal Cancer" brochure.