- Bowel cancer surgery
- Chemotherapy for bowel cancer
- Radiotherapy for bowel cancer
- Immunotherapy for bowel cancer
Treatment for bowel cancer can be done with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy, depending on the location, size and development of the tumor. According to a study in California, cancer of the left side of the intestine is easier to cure and the average life expectancy is higher. However, all the treatments indicated can be done in any case of bowel cancer to cure the disease.
Bowel cancer is curable when it is diagnosed early in the disease and treatment begins promptly, but when the colorectal tumor is discovered at an advanced stage, the chances of a cure decrease.
Bowel cancer surgery
Surgery is the main and, normally, the first method used in the treatment, and it can be performed in cancer of grade 1, 2 or 3. The objective is to remove the tumor, a part of the affected intestine and a small part of the healthy intestine, to ensure that there are no cancer cells in place.
In the case of early cancer, surgery is performed right after the diagnosis of the disease, while surgery for rectal cancer is only performed after 8 to 12 weeks of treatment with chemotherapy to decrease the size of the tumor and improve the chances of cure.
Recovery after bowel cancer surgery is time-consuming and the patient may experience:
- Pain; Tiredness; Weakness; Constipation; Diarrhea or bleeding; Pain during intercourse.
These side effects depend on the size and location of the tumor, the type of surgery and the patient's health status, but to reduce them, analgesics and vitamin supplements can be taken, guided by the oncologist.
Chemotherapy for bowel cancer
Chemotherapy is recommended for cancer grade 3, 4 or 5 and consists of the use of drugs that kill cancer cells, which can be in the form of pills or injection. The duration of treatment can vary from 6 months to 1 year, or more.
The main types of chemotherapy used in bowel cancer can be:
- Adjuvant: performed after surgery to destroy cancer cells that were not removed in the surgery; Neoadjuvant: used before surgery to shrink the tumor and facilitate its removal; For advanced grade 5 cancer: used to decrease the size of the tumor and relieve symptoms caused by metastases.
Some examples of medicines used in chemotherapy are Capecitabine, 5-FU and Irinotecan. The main side effects of chemotherapy can be hair loss, vomiting, loss of appetite and recurrent diarrhea. Here's what to do to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and how to make your hair grow faster after chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy for bowel cancer
Radiotherapy can be done instead of chemotherapy or to complete chemotherapy treatment as it also helps to kill cancer cells where it is applied, especially in patients with grade 3 or 4 bowel cancer. This type of treatment can be applied in different ways. ways:
- External: the radiation comes from a machine, requiring the patient to go to the hospital for treatment, for 5 days a week. Internal: the radiation comes from an implant containing the radioactive material placed next to the tumor, and the patient must remain in the hospital for a few days for treatment.
The side effects of radiation therapy are generally less aggressive than those of chemotherapy, but include skin irritation in the treated area, nausea, fatigue and irritation in the rectum and bladder. These effects tend to subside at the end of treatment, but irritation of the rectum and bladder may persist for months.
Immunotherapy for bowel cancer
Immunotherapy uses certain antibodies that are injected into the body to identify and attack cancer cells, preventing the growth of the tumor and the chances of metastasis. These drugs do not affect normal cells, thus reducing side effects.
The drugs most used in immunotherapy are Bevacizumab, Cetuximab or Panitumumab. Side effects of immunotherapy in the treatment of bowel cancer can be rash, bellyache, diarrhea, bleeding, sensitivity to light or breathing problems.
