Colorectal Cancer
Alternate Names : Colorectal Cancer
What are the treatments for the disease?
Several healthcare providers often work together to help manage colorectal cancer. Among them might be a general surgeon or cancer surgeon, radiation therapist, cancer doctor called an oncologist, and a primary care physician.
Colorectal cancer is treated with surgery. The surgeon removes the entire tumor, if possible. Often, this means part of the colon must be removed. This is called a hemicolectomy. The colon may be reconnected internally or a colostomy may be done. A colostomy allows the stool to drain into a bag on the outside of the body.
If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the risk of a recurrence is higher. Usually, surgery is combined with other types of treatment in these cases. Radiation and chemotherapy are other treatments. A person with rectal cancer may be given radiation before, during, or after surgery. Often, chemotherapy is used, too.
Cancer in part of the colon may be treated with chemotherapy. Often, a number of medications, such as fluorouracil (5-FU) and levamisole, are given over several months. This significantly reduces the likelihood that cancer will recur several years later.
Sometimes the cancer spreads too far to be removed surgically. While a number of chemotherapy medications are used at this point, none offer a cure. Treatment mostly relieves symptoms, such as swelling and jaundice.
Colorectal cancer responds to chemotherapy in less than 50% of cases. Treatment of this type of cancer continues to evolve. Experimental approaches are very important.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Depending on the site and size of the tumor, colostomy can be a side effect of surgery for colorectal cancer.
Rectal cancer is treated aggressively with surgery, radiation, and sometimes chemotherapy. Side effects can include:
bladder inflammation resulting from radiation
prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate
erectile dysfunction
pelvic burns
Occasionally, there are other problems, such as:
poor healing of the colostomy or a portion of the bowel
poor absorption of food after part or all of the colon is removed
When chemotherapy is given, it is usually tolerated well. However, side effects can include:
mouth irritation
diarrhea
low red and white blood cell counts
painful, reddened, swollen hands or feet
hair loss
Side effects of treatment for late-stage colorectal cancer vary depending on the medications used but may include those mentioned above. The drawbacks may outweigh the benefits.
Sometimes, chemotherapy medications are directed at an artery that supplies the liver. This can cause:
hepatitis
inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis
blood clots
infections
pain
What happens after treatment for the disease?
After treatment, a person must be watched to make sure that the reconnected bowel or the colostomy is working.
How is the disease monitored?
Monitoring for recurrence of colorectal cancer can involve:
physical exams
fecal occult blood test
lab tests, including tests of the CEA tumor marker
colonoscopy
chest X-ray
CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis
Colorectal cancer usually does not grow rapidly. Recurrences can happen several years later. Also, a second primary tumor can develop in the rest of the bowel.
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