Colon Cancer Treatments

Cancer is a condition which occurs when cells multiply uncontrollably and fail to die as they should. The cause of cancer is DNA changes inside a cell.

Doctors use tests to find out if colon cancer is present. They also determine the stage of the cancer and the extent to which it has progressed.

Chemotherapy

Treatment options are determined by the size of the tumour and whether or colon cancer Railroad injury it has spread. You could undergo treatment with chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination.

Doctors make use of cancer drugs to kill colon cancer cells or stop them from growing. The majority of these drugs are administered intravenously (IV). The medications are prescribed by medical oncologists. This is a doctor that is skilled in treating cancer using medications.

Chemotherapy can cause diarrhea. This side effect is preventable by drinking enough fluids. Constipation can be caused by it. It can be avoided by eating a balanced diet and exercising.

Some people suffering from colon cancer require chemotherapy before surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is what this is known as. It can shrink the tumor, and also lower the chance that the cancer will recur after surgery.

Sometimes doctors mix the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This is referred to as chemoradiation. This method kills any remaining cancerous cells and is a viable option either on its own or in combination with surgery. The doctors at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Centre often treat colon cancer using chemotherapy and radiation. They also provide a range of clinical trials that test new treatments for colon and rectal cancer. These therapies are considered experimental and could help to cure the disease.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses powerful energy (such as protons or X-rays) waves to shrink tumors and eliminate cancerous cells. It can be used in combination with other treatments or as a stand-alone treatment. It is most often used for those who have Colon cancer railroad injury cancer in an advanced stage that has been able to spread beyond the rectum or into lymphnodes in the vicinity.

For some colon cancers that are advanced that aren't removed by surgery, doctors may suggest chemotherapy neoadjuvant to radiation (also known as chemoradiation). This treatment can lower the chances that the cancer will grow back.

If your doctor concludes that the cancer has spread to your liver or lungs, surgery may be suggested. This involves taking out the areas of your lymph nodes as well as the colon that have cancer, and reconnecting the healthy areas. Doctors may also recommend treatment with immunotherapy or targeted drugs to control your symptoms and increase your odds of being cured.

If you have recurred cancer, your doctor will do an examination and ask about your previous health. They will also conduct additional tests, including scans and blood tests, to understand more about the recurrence. Your doctor may also recommend clinical trials to study new ways to treat colon cancer that is recurrence-related. These trials aren't suitable for all people and participation is entirely voluntary. If you choose to participate in a clinical trial, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits to you.

Targeted Drug Treatment

Targeted drugs, a form of chemotherapy, can end cancerous cells and stop their growth. They also block the growth of vessels required by tumors to expand. These drugs include bevacizumab cetuximab, and panitumumab. They can be given with other cancer medications or taken on their own. Regorafenib, also referred to as Fosamax Plus, is another option. It inhibits the action of the proteins that help cancer cells to grow. It is administered either by the mouth or through a vein.

Doctors typically give chemo prior surgery to shrink tumors and make them easier to eliminate. They may also give it to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells after surgery. It can be used alone or in combination with radiation therapy. Sometimes, immunotherapy and chemotherapy are combined.

Immunotherapy strengthens your immune system stronger to attack and eliminate cancerous cells. It is offered as antibodies, vaccines or other drugs. Your doctor may also recommend clinical studies that test ways to improve the treatment of colon cancer. These trials aren't available to everyone. Speak to your doctor about the pros, and cons, of taking part in clinical trials. It's crucial to know as much as you can about your health condition so that you can make the right decisions regarding your treatment. You can find reliable information at your local library, or online.

Immunotherapy

Your body's immune system provides a formidable defense that defends you and fights cancer. Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy, in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

T-cells are white blood cells produced by your bone marrow. T-cells recognize cancerous cells and foreign bodies and kill them or mark them for destruction by other immune system cells. Certain cancer cells possess proteins that prevent T-cells from attacking cancerous cells. Checkpoint inhibitors are medications which help your body's own T-cells work better by blocking the protein receptors. Two of these drugs such as nivolumab or pembrolizumab demonstrated promising results in metastatic colorectal tumors that are mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) and have microsatellite stability high (dMMR MSI-H).

Another type of immunotherapy uses your own immune cells to fight colon cancer. Doctors remove T cells from the surgically removed tumor, increase their numbers in a laboratory and then transfer them to you via an needle in a vein. This procedure is sometimes referred to as T-cell therapy or adoption therapy.

Other immunotherapies target specific proteins, genes, or tissues that aid cancer cells in their growth and spread. For instance, doctors can make use of monoclonal antibodies to stop so-called checkpoint molecules that control the activity of immune system cells. These antibodies can also carry radioactive substances such as a drug or toxin that targets and kills cancerous cells.