institute for cancer research

Rectal Cancer Treatment

Introduction

The measures available for rectal cancer treatment are generally classified into standard treatments and those being tested in clinical trials.

Rectal cancer is a disease typically characterized by the malignant cells that form in the tissues of the rectum.

Treatment Options

In addition to the conventional options available for rectal cancer treatment, at times patients are advised to participate in clinical trials where the new treatments are generally being tested and validated.

The most common options for rectal cancer treatment include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

To begin with, surgery is considered as the most common and preferred option for rectal cancer treatment. Various types of procedures can be used for the removal of the tumor in such treatment. These prominently include:

i) Local excision: This type of procedure is only performed if the cancer is detected at a very early stage. The surgeon removes the tumor without cutting into the abdomen.

ii) Polypectomy: This form of procedure is performed when the cancer is found in the polyp, which is basically a growth that protrudes from the rectal mucous membrane.

iii) Resection: This type of procedure is performed as a part of the rectal cancer treatment when the cancer is larger and involves removal of the anus and small amount of healthy tissue around it.

iv) Resection and colostomy: Once the resection is performed and the surgeon is not able to sew the rectum back together, a stoma or an opening is made on the outside of the body for the waste to pass through. This procedure is referred to as a colostomy.

In addition to surgery, radiation therapy is also an effective form of rectal cancer treatment. This form of treatment uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill the cancer cells. Two types of radiation therapy are generally used for the purpose, including the external radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy.

The manner in which the radiation therapy is administered for the rectal cancer treatment generally depends on the type and stage of cancer.

Meanwhile, chemotherapy is the process of using drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, by killing the cells or stopping them from dividing. These drugs can either be taken by mouth or injected into a vein or a muscle.

Regional chemotherapy can also be performed for the rectal cancer treatment, in which the substance is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ or a body cavity such as the abdomen.

Biologic therapy is one of the most well known methods as a part of the clinical trials being conducted for the purpose of developing new options for rectal cancer treatment. This form of treatment uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Such an option for rectal cancer treatment is also known as biotherapy or immunotherapy.

© 2005 - Cancer Treatment - Prevention - Research - A.P.John Cancer Institute
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