ARTICLES
Recommended Treatments for the Different Stages of Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage 0 Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage 0 colon cancer (carcinoma in situ) may include
the following types of surgery:
· Local excision, which is surgery to remove the colon cancer
without cutting through the abdominal wall. · A polypectomy,
which is surgery to remove the colon cancer from the bulging piece
of tissue.
· Resection/anastomosis,
which is surgery that removes the colon cancer by taking out a section
of the colon and rejoining the
cut ends of the colon. This procedure is done when the cancerous
tissue is too large to remove by local excision.
Treatment of Stage I Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage I colon cancer is usually resection/anastomosis
(removal of colon cancer by joining the cut ends of the colon) because
the cancerous tissue is usually too large at this stage to be removed
by local excision.
Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage II colon cancer may include the following:
· Resection/anastomosis · Clinical trials of chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, or biological therapy after surgery
Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage III colon cancer may include the following:
· Resection/anastomosis
with or without chemotherapy.
· Clinical
trials of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy
after surgery.
Treatment of Stage IV Colon Cancer
Treatment of Stage IV colon cancer may include the following:
· Resection/anastomosis · Surgery to remove parts of
other organs such as the liver, lungs, and ovaries where the cancer
may have spread.
· Chemotherapy.
· Clinical trials of chemotherapy or
biological therapy.
· Radiation
therapy may be offered to some patients as palliative therapy (to
relieve symptoms).
Treatment of Recurrent Colon Cancer or Cancerous Cells
Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on where the cancer
has recurred (come back) and the general health of the patient. Treatment
for recurrent colon cancer may include the following:
· Surgery to remove cancer that may have spread to the liver,
lungs, or ovaries. · Surgery to remove cancer cells that have
recurred in the colon.
· Radiation therapy as palliative therapy.
· Chemotherapy
as palliative therapy.
· Clinical trials
of biological therapy or chemotherapy.
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