Colon Cancer

Treatments for colon cancer typically involve some type of surgical procedure. The major diagnostic technique, colonoscopy, is a test done under anesthesia and allows for removal of polyps. In later stages of cancer where tumors and other damage occurs outside the colon, surgery is used to remove cancerous areas. The idea of surgery is fearful for many patients and they seek options for treating colon cancer without surgery

Chemotherapy is a non-surgical, medication approach to treating colon cancer. Actually chemotherapy is not one specific drug, but rather a method of delivering one drug or a combination of drugs. For patients whose colon cancer is discovered early, chemotherapy may be all the treatment needed. This is known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The objective is to use this drug therapy to shrink tumors so that surgery may not be required to remove them.

The oncologist chooses primary chemotherapy drugs based on the type and extent of cancer then administered to the patient in pill form or by intravenous injection under medical supervision. For cases where the cancer already caused significant damage or attacked an organ that cannot be removed, chemotherapy is the non-surgical treatment of choice to reduce the tumors.

Radiation therapy is another method of treating colon cancer without surgery. Radiation directs high energy rays to kill the cancer cells and also offers an ease of symptoms for advanced cancer patients. Radiation may be combined with chemotherapy however that double play is usually reserved for later stages of colon cancer. An external beam radiation uses a linear accelerator machine to deliver for a few minutes each day over several weeks. The radiation penetrates the skin, so no surgery, needles or invasive procedures are required.

Endocavitary radiation therapy is also delivered by a hand-held wand placed into the anus so the radiation is directed to the rectum without going through the abdomen. This targeted approach is effective for elderly patients and those who might otherwise face radical cancer surgery that would result in a colostomy and long recovery period.

Another medication approach to treating colon cancer without surgery is targeted therapies that attack cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells. Cetuximab (Erbitux) is a synthetic protein monoclonal antibody that was the first targeted therapy drug approved for treatment of colon cancer. This targeted therapy drug is administered by intravenous injection under medical supervision.

As the popularity of targeted therapy increases, more drugs are receiving FDA approval for treating colon cancer without surgery. Panitumumab (Vectibix) and Bevaxizumab (Avastin) are also monoclonal antibodies used with chemotherapy.

The new targeted therapy drugs show promise as treatment but at a hefty price . A typical 8 week treatment can cost $20,000 to $30,000 which is not covered by most insurance plans.

A final option for treating colon cancer without surgery is to participate in a clinical trial for a new medication. During the experimental drug trial, some participants get the new drug while others get a placebo or non-drug alternative. Participants do not know whether they are receiving the drug or the placebo.

Colon Cancer Tumor Dissolved Without Surgery |