Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Treatment for colorectal cancer typically depends on the stage of the cancer, as well as the patient's overall health and preferences. Here are some common approaches:
- Surgery: Surgery is the most common procedure for colorectal cancer treatment and includes:
- Polypectomy: This surgery removes cancerous polyps.
- Partial Colectomy: This is also called colon resection surgery. Surgeons remove the section of your colon that contains a tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue. The healthy colon sections are then connected in a procedure called anastomosis.
- Surgical Resection with Colostomy: Like a colectomy, surgeons remove the section of your colon that contains a tumor. In this surgery, however, they can’t connect healthy colon sections. Instead, they do a colostomy. In a colostomy, your bowel is moved to an opening in your abdominal wall, and your stool is collected in a colostomy bag.
- Chemotherapy: Often used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. It can also be used before surgery to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove.
- Radiation Therapy: Sometimes used in conjunction with chemotherapy, especially if the cancer is advanced or has spread to other areas. Radiation can help reduce tumor size and relieve pain or blockages caused by larger tumors.
- Targeted Therapy: This type of therapy focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted therapies can cause cancer cells to die.
- Immunotherapy: This treatment uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It's more commonly used for cancers with high levels of certain genetic markers.
- Palliative Care: Includes treatments to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life, which can be an important part of managing advanced colorectal cancer.
The choice of treatment often involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and gastroenterologists. The treatment plan often involves a combination of these methods and is personalized based on the patient's specific situation, including the cancer stage, location, and the patient's overall health. Regular follow-up and monitoring by your GW Cancer Center team are essential to assess the treatment's effectiveness and manage any side effects or complications.
