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Colorectal Cancer Treatment by Stages

The primary initial treatment for all stages of colorectal cancer is surgery. Depending on the stage, the purpose of the surgery is to remove the tissue, surrounding tissue and/or affected organs. Reattachment surgery is often needed to reconnect the healthy portion of the colon once the diseased portion has been removed. Chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials and adjuvant therapy are also prescribed in conjunction with surgery.

  1. Stage 0

    • Since the cancer is still within the inner lining of the colon, surgery is considered curative at this stage. Polypectomy or local excision are the two methods of surgery used most often to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. Resection is used to remove larger diseased tissue and reattach the healthy sections of the colon to maintain the functions of the bowels.

    Stage I

    • Like Stage 0, surgery is the mode of treatment in Stage 1. The tumor and surrounding tissue is removed by surgery with no other treatment performed.

    Stage II

    • Again, surgery is the first line of defense in Stage II, when the cancer is larger and has spread through the colon's muscular wall. At this stage, clinical trials for adjuvant immunotherapy, radiation or chemotherapy are examined.

    Stage III

    • Stage III treatment for colorectal cancer is two-fold, sometimes three-fold. First, surgery is performed to remove the cancer and all lymph nodes that have been deemed to be affected. The patient will be given chemotherapy with leucovorin and 5FU after surgery. If the tumor is large and has spread to the tissue surrounding the colon, then radiation therapy is performed. Eloxatin is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved treatment for Stage III colon cancer.

    Stage IV

    • Since the cancer has spread to other organs of the body in Stage IV, surgery is aggressive. Surgery is not only performed to remove the cancer in the colon and connect the healthy portion of the colon, but also on other organs of the body, such as the ovaries, lungs and liver, where the colorectal cancer may have spread. Chemotherapy and radiation are performed for symptom relief and possibly to delay and prevent symptoms from reoccurring.

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