Chemo For Colon Cancer
One of the several treatment options for cancer is chemotherapy. This method makes use of anticancer drugs in killing colon cancer cells. This is a systematic mode of treatment that focuses on preventing the growth of cancer cells and their spread in other areas of the body.
Like most cancer treatment options, chemotherapy has various roles in treating colon cancer. First, it removes the colon cancer. It also kills the colon cancer cells that may not have been taken out during a surgery. It also reduces the tumor’s size prior to surgery, and it can treat colon cancer by managing the growth of tumor. Chemotherapy also relieves a few of the symptoms related to colon cancer, and can reduce chances of recurrence of the disease.
Chemotherapy is usually used after the conduct of surgery, making sure that cancer cells which may have not been killed through surgery are taken out. Chemotherapy maybe administered orally, or intravenously. Once these chemotherapy drugs go into the bloodstream, they can access the cancer cells growing in various parts of the body.
There are studies indicating that a series of chemotherapy sessions after a surgical procedure for colon cancer increases the livelihood of patients surviving the disease, particularly for those suffering from certain stages of rectal and colon cancer.
Usually, chemotherapy is given to patients with state II of colon cancer. This form of treatment is usually recommended to high risk patients. Meanwhile, adjuvant chemotherapy given after surgery is recommended for patients who are into stage III of colorectal cancer. Patients of Stage IV cancers can also benefit from chemotherapy since it helps in reducing the tumor, increasing the life expectancy and improving the quality of life of the patient.
Adjuvant chemotherapy usually involved the monthly administration of drugs for at least 6 to 9 months. A combination of drugs such as leucovorine, 5-FU, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin are used.
Chemotherapy may have its negative effects. The side effects depend on the type of drugs used, the amount of drugs used, and the period they are dispensed. The side effects can also vary from one patient to another.
5FU, for instance, can result to side effects such as diarrhea, sore mouth, nausea, drop in the blood cell count, and tiredness. Irinotecan, on the other hand, leads to watery eyes, increased perspiration, diarrhea, nauseas, pain in the abdomen, hair loss, and drop in the blood cell count.
