Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer

By Puneet Singh Cheema, MD, HealthEast Cancer Care Medical Director

Treatment depends mainly on the size, location and extent of the tumor, and on the patient's general health. Patients are often treated by a team of specialists, which may include a gastroenterologist, surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist.

Several different types of treatment are used to treat colorectal cancer and sometimes the treatments are combined.

Surgery - Surgery to remove the tumor is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. Generally, a surgeon removes the tumor along with part of the nearby healthy colon or rectum and nearby lymph nodes. In most cases, the doctor is able to reconnect the healthy portions of the colon or rectum.
Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given to destroy any cancerous cells that remain in the body after surgery, to control tumor growth, or to relieve symptoms of the disease. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection directly into a vein, although some are given in the form of a pill.
Radiation therapy/radiotherapy - Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Doctors may use radiation therapy before surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the treated area. Radiation therapy is also used to relieve symptoms. The radiation may come from a machine or from an implant placed directly into or near the tumor.
Biological therapy/immunotherapy - Biological therapy, or immunotherapy, uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. Biological therapies are used to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system's natural anticancer function. Biological therapy may be given after surgery, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Most biological treatments are given by injection into a vein.
Clinical trials - Clinical trials (research studies) to evaluate new ways to treat cancer are an appropriate option for many patients with colorectal cancer. In some studies, all patients receive the new treatment. In others, doctors compare different therapies by giving the promising new treatment to one group of patients and the usual (standard) therapy to another group.

Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that should involve the patient, family and health care team. Research has led to real progress against this increasingly treatable disease, with a lower chance of death and an improved quality of life for the people who have it.

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