Treatment Options for Colon Cancer

Bowel surgery is the foremost treatment option for colon cancer. Learn about the types of surgeries, risks and procedures used to treat this disease.

A detailed description of chemotherapy for colon cancer. Learn more about the types of chemotherapy, how it is administered, the side effects and what to expect during your treatment cycles.

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for colon cancer and commonly delivered as an adjuvant therapy (complements another treatment, such as surgery). Special high-dose x-ray beams are used to kill rapidly dividing cells, like the colon cancer cells.

Learn more about your colon cancer treatment options to empower yourself through education. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy are all used to fight this disease. The more you know about treatment options, the better prepared you will be to take an active part in your treatment plan.

A basic overview of colon cancer treatment plus links to more detailed information on surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies.

Helpful tips for making treatment decisions when first diagnosed with colon cancer.

Ideas on what questions you may want to ask to help yourself cope with your diagnosis and prepare for treatment.

Information on what to expect during and after colon cancer surgery.

Whether permanent or temporary, a colostomy is going to change the way you do things. An ostomy is an artificial opening that is surgically made in your body. People have colostomies surgically created during surgery to create a new way for waste to exit the body, or to allow the remaining colon to rest and heal.

Information on what to expect during chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Information on what to expect during radiation therapy for colon cancer.

Basic information on targeted therapies for colon cancer.

Information about treating colon cancer with monoclonal antibody therapy.

Chemotherapy is not a selective treatment – it works by killing cells that rapidly grow and divide throughout your body, which include healthy and cancerous cells. Unlike the cancer cells, the normal cells will regenerate. Learn how to anticipate and mitigate common side effects such asa mouth sores, tingling in the hands and feet, memory...

Advanced cancer treatment offers many options. Deciding what advanced cancer treatment is right for you will help you cope with stage 4 colon cancer.

Palliative treatment, also known as symptom management or comfort care, is focused on subduing uncomfortable symptoms from a chronic or terminal disease, such as cancer. Learn about the types of treatment options including pain management, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Alternative cancer therapies can be safe, but they can cause harm in some cases. Whether or not an alternative cancer therapy is safe for you depends on a number of things. Before starting alternative cancer therapies, talk to your doctor. Together, you can make informed decisions about which alternative cancer therapies are OK for you.

Learn more about how colon cancer is treated including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and target therapies.

Learn what happens from the biopsy of your colon cancer through the staging process.

A diagnosis of colon cancer is life-altering. Learn how to take care of yourself while fighting this disease. Learn more about support groups, your medical team, resources and self-care tips here. Maintaining your emotional and physical health may help you in the long run.

If you elect to have bowel surgery for colon cancer, your treatment success will be placed squarely in the hands of your surgeon. Do your research and learn how to find the right colon surgeon for your needs.