Rectal Cancer Treatments

Rectal cancer, also called colorectal cancer, and occurs in the lower six inches of the large intestine. According to the Mayo Clinic, rectal cancers often begin as non-cancerous polyps and turn cancerous over a period of time. Treatments for rectal cancer depend on the stage and size of the tumor, whether the cancer has metastasized (spread) and the overall health of the patient.

Surgery

• Colectomy is surgical removal of the part of the colon where the cancer is located, along with adjacent healthy tissue and lymph noses.

Colostomy

• Colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdomen for the large intestine to be connected to a bag that collects solid waste. It is performed when cancer grows on the opening of the rectum.

Palliative Surgery

• According to the Mayo Clinic, palliative surgery can be performed to lessen the symptoms and pain from advanced rectal cancer. This type of surgery does not remove the cancerous growths.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that kill fast growing cancerous and healthy cells throughout the body and is used with surgery for metastatic rectal cancer.

Targeted Drug Therapy

• Targeted drug therapy is used to treat advanced rectal cancer and works by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor and reducing the ability of cancer cells to reproduce.

Radiation Therapy

• External beams of radiation can be directed at the rectum to kill cancerous cells. Radiation is usually used together with chemotherapy and surgery.

Considerations

• External beams of radiation can be directed at the rectum to kill cancerous cells and is usually used together with chemotherapy and surgery.