Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 15

Treatment Methods
The choice of treatment depends mainly on where the tumor is in the colon
or rectum and the stage of the disease. Treatment for colorectal cancer may
involve surgery, chemotherapy, biological therapy, or radiation therapy.
Some people have a combination of treatments. Colon cancer is treated
differently from rectal cancer.

Treatment for Colon Cancer
Most patients with colon cancer are treated with surgery. Some people have
both surgery and chemotherapy. Some with advanced disease get biological
therapy.
A colostomy is seldom needed for people with colon cancer.
Although radiation therapy is rarely used to treat colon cancer, it is used to
relieve pain and other symptoms.

Treatment for Rectal Cancer
For all stages of rectal cancer, surgery is the most common treatment. Some
patients receive surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Some with
advanced disease get biological therapy.
About 1 out of 8 people with rectal cancer needs a permanent colostomy.
Radiation therapy may be used before and after surgery. Some people have
radiation therapy before surgery to shrink the tumor, and some have it after
surgery to kill cancer cells that may remain in the area. At some hospitals,
patients may have radiation therapy during surgery. People also may have
radiation therapy to relieve pain and other problems caused by the cancer.
Your doctor can describe your treatment choices and the expected results.
You and your doctor can work together to set a treatment plan that meets
your needs.

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