The National Cancer Institute estimates that 102,900 new cases of colon cancer and 39,670 cases of rectal cancer occur annually. They estimate that there will be 51,000 deaths from both types of cancer. Colon cancer, if caught early, is curable, and the five-year survival rate is 90 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. Treatment for colon cancer consists of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer and have adequate free margins in the specimen. This means that the surgeon should remove good tissue along with the tumor to assure that all localized tumor is removed. It is also important to dissect the surrounding lymph nodes so as not to leave any cancer in the abdomen. Resection of the cancer is accomplished by taking out sections of the colon that have tumor and then sewing the separated ends back together again.
Sometimes, a total colectomy or complete removal of the colon is necessary. Achieving a surgical cure depends on the technical aspects of the surgery--for instance, the ability to achieve free margins in the specimen, the biological properties of the cancer and the staging of the cancer.
Radiation
Radiation is sometimes used to shrink tumors prior to surgery, according to the American Cancer Society. Radiation is the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. The radiation can be done externally, or radioactive seeds can be placed inside the tumor. If the surgeon feels that there may be residual cancer left over after surgery, then radiation can be used to kill the microcells that may be there. The side effects of radiation include burned skin, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of bowel control.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses very strong drugs to kill cancer cells. When given orally or through an intravenous line, chemotherapy works throughout the body. This systemic effect is good for cancer that has spread to different organs. Chemotherapy can increase the lifespan of people with advanced disease. Patients with stage III disease can benefit from chemotherapy and have a 78-percent three-year survival rate, according to "Sabiston's Textbook of Surgery."
References
- "Sabiston Textbook of Surgery"; The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice, 16th Edition by Courtney M. Townsend (Editor), Mattox, B. Mark Evers, Daniel Beauchamp; 2009
- National Cancer Institute: Colon and Rectal Cancer
- National Cancer Institute: SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Cancer of the Colon and Rectum
- The American Cancer Society: How is colorectal cancer treated?
