Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer

There are three main options for treating colon cancer. They are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In surgical treatment, tumor is removed from the colon. In radiotherapy, x-rays are used to kill uncontrollably dividing cells. Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs which kill cancer cells. Health care professionals use this option when there is a risk that the colon cancer may come back after some time. Doctors use both radiotherapy and chemotherapy for colon cancer treatment. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the drug which is generally used for curing colon cancer.

Colon Cancer Stages
There are five stages of colon cancer. This leveling helps the medical professionals to decide schedule and dosage of chemotherapy for patients suffering from colon cancer. The first stage is called stage 0. It refers to cancer which starts in the epithelial tissue and remains restricted to the innermost lining of the colon. The second stage or stage 1 is characterized by extension of the cancer to the middle layers of the colon. The stage 0 and 1 can be treated by surgery and medication. The colon cancer from third stage onwards needs surgery as well as chemotherapy for complete treatment.

The third stage or the stage 2 refers to the cancer which has moved beyond the middle layers of the colon. The cancer may or may not extend to the nearby organs in stage 2. The stage 3 of colon cancer refers to the cancer which has affected at least three lymph nodes. The last stage of colon cancer is the stage 4. It refers to the colon cancer which has spread to the nearby lymph nodes as well as other parts of the body. The body structures which commonly come under its effect are the liver and lungs.

Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer
Chemotherapy medicines can be given in several ways. Some of the commonly used treatments are intravenous injection, intravenous pumping and oral administration. Chemotherapy can be used in a variety of situations. When the colon cancer has reached an advanced stage and has spread to other parts of your body, a form of chemotherapy called primary chemotherapy is given. In the given situation, surgery cannot cure cancer but drugs can as the latter can cause its effect on a large number of cells. The chemotherapy drugs shrink tumors and relieve cancer symptoms.

When the cancer cells from the affected colon has been surgically removed, the type called adjuvant chemotherapy is used. This is because, a surgery cannot remove all the cancer cells from your body. Some cancer cells might have been left behind. The chemotherapy drugs would kill them, and thus completely cure colon cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy ensures that the cancer would not come back.

There is another form of chemotherapy called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. It is given before the doctor surgically removes the cancer cells of the colon. It is done to reduce the risk of complications which might occur during surgery. Chemotherapy is sometimes given along with radiation as it increases the effectiveness of the latter.

Chemotherapy Side Effects
Chemotherapy can produce certain side effects. Its side effects include diarrhea, mouth sores, anemia, eye defects, nausea, vomiting and hair loss. The diarrhea caused by chemotherapy can be serious. The doctor often has to reduce the dose of chemotherapy drugs to prevent severe dehydration. You may prevent diarrhea by drinking plenty of water and other non-alcoholic drinks. Your doctor may give you anti-diarrheal medicines to curb diarrhea.

You may suffer from sores in mouth while you get chemotherapy. In order to prevent it, rinse your mouth with sterile, saline, or non-alcoholic mouth rinse several times a day. If even after doing it you get mouth sores, then stay away from spicy and hot foods as they tend to irritate the sores. Eat cold foods which can give you a soothing effect. As an effect of chemotherapy, you may develop certain eye problems. They may include gritty, watery eyes. Your doctor may give you a lubricating drop like saline to ease grittiness and irritation in the eyes.

Chemotherapy may affect the hemoglobin, thrombocyte (platelet) and leucocyte count of your body. The medical condition of low hemoglobin is known as anemia. A low thrombocyte count can make your body more prone to bruises and bleeding. If you have low leucocyte count, you may have a weakened immune system. This means you can easily get infected by micro-organisms, and suffer from several diseases and disorders quite often. The effect largely depends upon the dosage and schedule of the drugs being given. You may or may not experience this particular side effect.

The side effects of chemotherapy for colon cancer can be avoided by following a particular diet and bringing certain changes to medications. A doctor is the person who can tell you about the diet and medication appropriate for you. If you notice any of the given side effects, visit your doctor and discuss your medical condition with respect to chemotherapy that is being given to you. Ask him to suggest you changes in your diet, medication, or even lifestyle. Follow his instructions strictly to recuperate fast. Here's wishing you a fast recovery.