Colon, or colorectal, cancer forms inside the colon, the longest part of the large intestine and the lower part of the body's digestive system. It's a common type of malignancy and one of the most frequent causes of deaths in the United States, according to MedlinePlus. An early diagnosis of colon cancer often leads to a complete cure, though the chance of recovery is reduced with a more advanced tumor. Doctors take into account the stage of the cancer when deciding on a treatment option.
Colon Surgery
Colon surgery is the surgical removal of benign growths or polyps of the colon that can't be reached by a conventional endoscope. The surgeon also takes out those small outpouchings, or ceca, from the beginning of the large intestine; these ceca are associated with severe complications of colon cancer, such as a change in bowel habits and blood in the stool. In some cases, surgery may also be an option to determine whether the growth is malignant.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs destroy cancer cells in the body. Colon cancer patients usually receive chemotherapy treatment followed by a colostomy--a procedure that brings part of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall--to destroy any remnant cancerous cells and to relieve associated symptoms. It can also be given when the cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the lymph nodes. In some cases, chemotherapy treatment is also done along with radiation therapy, especially in persons with rectal cancer, notes MayoClinic.com.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses methods such as high-energy radiation, including X-rays, which are directed at a person's body to destroy any cancerous tissues that might have been left after a tumor is removed by surgery. Radiation therapy is occasionally used in the early stages of colon cancer. For larger tumors, it is usual for a patient to receive radiation therapy right before the surgery because radiation helps reduce tumor size.
