Colorectal (Colon) Cancer Slideshow Pictures Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Robert J Fingerote, MD, MSc, BSc

Medical Editor:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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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.