Treatment for colon and rectal cancer depends on the stage and other factors that you and your doctor will discuss before choosing a treatment option.
Your doctor will conduct tests and tissue biopsies to determine your cancer stage. Cancer staging is the process of classifying how far a cancer has progressed. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) developed the most commonly used system for staging colorectal cancers. It is referred to as TNM (Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis) and takes into account the tumor size, lymph node involvement and whether the cancer has spread, or metastasized to other organs.
Once the stage is determined, the course of treatment may include more than one therapy together or in sequence. In deciding what treatment is best, it is important for patients to ask questions and seek a second opinion. The three primary forms of standard therapy for colon and rectal cancer are:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
Another option currently being tested in clinical trials is biologic therapy, which uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.
Some people have attempted to cure cancer using complementary or alternative therapies. You must be very careful about choosing an alternative especially. Make sure that there has been research done.
Combinations of the therapies above may also be given before or after surgery. When given before the primary therapy, a treatment is called neoadjuvant therapy. When given after the primary therapy, a treatment is called adjuvant therapy.
In deciding with your doctor which therapy or combination of therapies are best, you will want to discuss side effects and complications of each treatment strategy.
Specific Issues With Each Chemotherapy
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Complications and Side Effects
Delivery Methods
Tools For You
Guidelines
Further Discussion and Weblinks
|
