Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer Chemo: Treating Colon Cancer With Chemotherapy

Colon cancer chemo is one the most effective methods for treatment of colon cancer. But it has been found that when it is combined with radiotherapy, the chances of remission (withdrawal or cessation of the cancerous cell activity) are better.

Chemotherapy for colon cancer involves the use of specific drugs to halt the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Whether taken orally, or injected into the vein or muscle, the chemotherapy drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body. This is known as systemic chemotherapy. Sometimes chemo for colon cancer is placed directly into spinal column or into an organ, or even a body cavity (like abdomen).

Where cancer has spread to the liver, chemoembolization is used. This blocks the main artery that supplies blood to the liver, and by injecting anticancer drugs between the blocked area and the liver. The drugs are then delivered all over the liver, by its arteries. While the liver continues to receive some blood from the liver’s portal vein, it is brought naturally by its veins from the stomach as well as the intestine.

Colon cancer chemotherapy depends on the type along with stage of colon cancer receiving treatment.

Radiation therapy

This therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill the cancer cells or prevent their multiplying themselves. A machine outside the body is focused on the body to emit the high energy x-rays. This is called external therapy.  Another method of radiation is to implant a radioactive substance inside the body, sealed in needles, wires, catheters etc, and placed near to or on the area near the cancerous cells.

There are different types of treatment for patients with colon cancer.

There is yet another form of therapy, which is very close to chemo for colon cancer, and radiotherapy. This is known as Radiofrequency treatment. It involves the use of a special probe with tiny electrodes, which are sometimes inserted directly through the skin, with the patient under local anesthesia, and with the use of high monitored radiofrequencies used to kill the cancerous cells. This is known as Radiofrequency ablation. Where it is done in the abdomen, and general anesthesia is used.

Yet another treatment which comes close to colon cancer chemotherapy is a method by which the oncologist or the surgeon uses instruments to freeze the abnormal tissue, thus destroying it. The term for this form of treatment is Cryosurgery.

Follow-up examination is a must to help ascertain whether the colon cancer chemo has had its intended effect, and whether there is a recurrence of the cancer. A blood test is done to find out whether a particular substance, called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has increased in the blood cells, which may indicate whether the cancer is again present or not. There are other tests to find recurrent colon cancer.

Colon Cancer