The colon is part of the digestive system. It's responsible for absorbing nutrients from our diet. The first six feet of the large intestine are the large bowel or colon; the last six inches are called the rectum and anus. Colorectal cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissue of the intestinal wall. The type of treatment that you may receive depends on the stage and severity of your cancer, as well as your overall health.
Surgery
There are several different types of surgical procedures that may be used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Surgery (removing the cancer in an operation) is the most common treatment for all stages of colon cancer, reports the National Cancer Institute. A local excision may be used if the cancer is small. A tube is inserted in the rectum and the cancer is removed. If the cancer is more advanced, a resection may be necessary. The affected area of the colon is removed, as well as the surrounding tissue. In some cases, the two areas of the colon may not be able to be reattached and a colostomy may be necessary. In some cases, a colostomy may be reversed at a later date. Other surgical options include radio-frequency ablation and cryosurgery, in which high-frequency waves or freezing of the cancer cells is used.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapeutic agents are medications used to kill cancer cells and stop them from dividing. They may be taken orally or intravenously. Chemo is sometimes used before surgery to try to shrink the cancer and make surgery easier, says the American Cancer Society. Some common chemotherapeutic agents used to treat colon cancer are 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Avastin.
Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-beam radioactive waves to kill cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials put right in the tumor (brachytherapy or internal or implant radiation), the American Cancer Society says. Radiation may be helpful after surgery to kill any of the cancer cells that may have been left behind during surgery.
