Cancer
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
Ways to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
Chemotherapy and Radiation
Chemotherapy and Radiation
If, after surgery, some cancer cells remain, you
may need chemotherapy to destroy these cells. And if the cancer has spread from your colon to nearby
organs like the liver, chemotherapy may be able to kill these cells before they
cause complications. With rectal cancer, you'll likely need radiation therapy to
eliminate any remaining cells and shrink any tumors.
Recent studies
have shown that radiation prior to surgery helps shrink the tumor and can help
to prevent the need for a permanent colostomy bag.
By Daniel Halperin, published March 22, 2011. Daniel is a freelance writer based in New York City.
