Understanding the Journey of Colon Cancer Treatment

Colon cancer Treatment usually starts with detection, often through screening tests, such as colonoscopy. Once the diagnosis is colon cancer, treatment for colon cancer is decided based on the stage of the cancer and its location. For early-stage colon cancers, treatment is most frequently surgical, to resect (i.e., remove) the cancerous tumor and any surrounding affected tissue. For advanced colon cancers, treatment can include chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted treatment to downsize the tumor and/or decrease tumor growth.It is still an emerging treatment for advanced colon cancer. After treatment, scans and colonoscopy are completed at regular intervals to ensure cancer has not returned. Patients are also often provided with supportive care as treatment side effects arise, in addition to working on improving their quality of life, and for emotional support. Every treatment journey is unique, and every person’s treatment is likely to be different based on the unique situation. Research continues to improve survival rates and decrease side effects of treatment.