Colon Cancer (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Colon Cancer Overview
- Colon Cancer Causes
- Colon Cancer Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Colon Cancer Treatment
- Medical Treatment
- Surgery
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Colorectal (Colon) Cancer - Slideshow
- Digestive Disease Myths - Slideshow
- Viewer Comments: Colon Cancer - How Was Diagnosis Established
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.
Next: Surgery »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Colon Cancer - How Was Diagnosis Established
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
How was the diagnosis of your colon cancer established?
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Cancer
Get the latest treatment options.
From WebMD
Cancer Resources
- A Commonsense Approach to Cancer Prevention
- 13 Best Quit-Smoking Tips Ever
- Oral Cancer and Other Mouth Problems
Featured Centers
- 12 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Viruses
- 10 Surprising Benefits of Treating Depression
- Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Colon Cancer, Adenocarcinoma »
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States.
Featured Topics
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds
