| Chemotherapy is the use of very strong anticancer | | | | chemotherapy is often useful in relieving |
| drugs to kill colon cancer cells. | | | | the symptoms of the cancer.Who is given |
| Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment and will | | | | Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer? |
| address cancer that is in the entire | | | | The general opinion in the medical community differs |
| body which is why it is often used to prevent | | | | on whether chemotherapy for |
| spread or to treat cancer that has | | | | Stage II colon cancer will be beneficial to the patient |
| already spread. This is not the only reason why | | | | after surgery. It is usually only |
| chemotherapy is used so if you | | | | advisable in very high risk patients.Adjuvant |
| doctor suggests treatment with chemotherapy | | | | chemotherapy after surgery is the standard of care |
| drugs do not assume that your | | | | for patients with Stage |
| cancer has spread and metastesized.Chemotherapy | | | | III colorectal cancer. Also patients with Stage IV |
| plays a few roles in the treatment of colon cancer. | | | | cancers of the colon or rectum can |
| used to kill colon cancer cells that might have not | | | | benefit from the use of chemotherapy as it often |
| been removed during surgical | | | | will help to shrink the tumor, |
| removal of the colon cancer. | | | | increase life expectancy and improve the quality of |
| reduces the size of the tumor before surgery is | | | | life.How is Chemotherapy Administered for Colorectal |
| performed | | | | Cancer?The use of adjuvant chemotherapy typically |
| used to treat colon cancer by controlling the growth | | | | involves monthly administration of the |
| of the tumor. | | | | chemotherapy drugs for usually 6 to 8 months. |
| used to relieve some of the symptoms of the colon | | | | Usually on or a combination of the |
| cancer. | | | | following drugs are administered:5-FU (5-fluorouracil) |
| reduce the likelyhood of recurrence | | | | leucovorin |
| Chemotherapy is often used after surgery is | | | | irinotecan |
| performed to eliminate cancer cells that | | | | oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) |
| may have been left behind and not removed by | | | | The standard adjuvant chemotherapy combination |
| surgery. The chemotherapy can be | | | | for colon cancer consists of 5-FU |
| administered through an IV (intravenously) or in pill | | | | and leucovorin.Side Effects of Chemotherapy: |
| form. Once the chemotherapy | | | | Chemotherapy can produce some side effects. The |
| drugs enter the bloodstream they can reach cancer | | | | type of side effects experiences |
| cells in all parts of the body. | | | | depends upon the type of chemotherapy drugs |
| Some studies have shown that using a regimen of | | | | used, how much of the drugs are |
| chemotherapy after surgery for | | | | given and the period of time they are administered. |
| colon cancer can increase the surivival rates for | | | | The side effects also depend on |
| some stages of colon and rectal | | | | the individual. |
| cancers.In patients with advanced colorectal cancer | | | | |