Colon Cancer Treatment

Medical Treatment

The primary treatment of colon cancer is to surgically remove part or all of your colon. Suggestive polyps, if few in number, may be removed during colonoscopy.

Chemotherapy after surgery can prolong survival for people whose cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Radiation treatment after surgery does not help people with colon cancer, but it does prolong survival for people with rectal cancer.

• Given before surgery, radiation may reduce tumor size. This can improve the chances that the tumor will be removed successfully.
  
  
• Radiation before surgery also appears to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back after treatment.