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Chemo for Colon Cancer
Chemo for colon cancer is one of the most common treatments for Stage 2, 3 and 4 cancers. Many people are afraid of chemotherapy because they've heard it can cause unpleasant side effects.
Today's drug management techniques mean that this is much less likely than it used to be. Many of the side effects that we used to associate with chemotherapy are now controlled or eliminated. Some types of chemotherapy can be taken with few to no problems.
Using chemotherapy could be vital to you. After all, it's often the best option for a successful treatment program.
What Is Chemo For Colon Cancer?
Chemotherapy refers to any cancer treatment that uses chemicals to stop the cells from growing. It's the most common treatment for colon cancer in Stage 4. This is because chemotherapy has the ability to eliminate cancerous cells far away from the original tumor.
It works on your whole system to kill the cancer cell by cell. It's the most effective kind of treatment for some kinds of colon cancer.
Patients in Stage 4 aren't the only ones who can make use of chemo for colon cancer. People with other colon cancer stages may also benefit from this type of therapy.
- Stage 1 cancers can usually be eliminated by surgery alone.
- Stage 2 and 3 cancers aren't systemic, but they often require additional radiation and chemotherapy treatments to eliminate the tumor.
More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer will need to receive chemotherapy. Millions of them will find that this type of treatment is effective and safe. Their lives are longer and happier because they've had this kind of therapy.
The average chemotherapy regiment takes about six weeks. It includes drugs that will help fight the cancer and drugs that will support the body during the treatment.
People who want their chemotherapy treatments to be truly effective need to stick to their schedule. Changing the schedule could prevent you from getting rid of all cancerous cells or it could slow down your progress. Let your doctor know in advance if you will have obligations that might require you to miss a treatment.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Chemotherapy is given in a number of different ways:
- It can come in the form of a pill
- or it can be an injection.
Both types destroy cancer cells but can't always distinguish between a healthy cell and a cancerous one. This is why side effects occur.
Fast growing cells like hair and blood may be destroyed by the chemotherapy medications. This is why so many cancer patients lose their hair or become weak and tired. We don't know how to keep these complications from happening yet. But medical science has made them less of a problem with current technologies.
Different types of drugs are used for different types of cancer. Each one works differently and will be effective at a particular time in the life cycle of the cell. Your doctor will decide which drug is right for your situation.
You should ask your doctor about the drugs that are being used. He can explain the process of treatment and help you understand what happens. Your doctor will also discuss the goals of each treatment and the possible risks. This allows you to decide which treatments are worthwhile.
Discuss any issues that might interrupt your treatment with your doctor. He is going to develop a plan designed specifically for you. The type of cancer, colon cancer stages, your overall health and other factors are taken into account. Specific chemotherapy drugs will be administered at specific times. This is called your scheduled cycle. It may be daily, weekly, or monthly. It all depends on the situation you're in. The end goal is to make certain that your chemotherapy treatment is timely, effective, and free from problems.
Side Effects Of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatments fight cancer. They also cause side effects in many cases. One common one is a low white blood cell count. This means that your immune system isn't at its best. Your chances of becoming ill can go up.
People who are receiving chemotherapy treatments need to be especially careful about exposure to illness. If your white blood cell count drops too low, your doctor may change your schedule or the dosage.
Other possible complications include:
- low counts for other blood cells
- feelings of nausea
- loss of hair and tiredness.
Most of these side effects are just temporary and uncomfortable. But some of them can be serious. Your doctor can help you manage side effects to prevent your chemotherapy schedule from being interrupted. A more consistent schedule means a better chance of conquering your colon cancer quickly and a faster road to recovery.
- Treatments for Colon Cancer - This article provides an overview of the available treatments for colon cancer.
- Stage 2 Colon Cancer - Stage 2 colon cancer is very curable. Chemotherapy is not needed for all patients, surgery alone can be enough. Cure rates for stage 2 colon cancer with surgery alone is 65% to...
- Colon Cancer Stage 3 - For colon cancer stage 3 patient’s, chemotherapy is required. This stage of colon cancer can be fatal, however there are drugs that can add months, even years onto your life. There are many combinations of different types of drugs, a common combo (aka cocktail) is Eloxatin with Adrucil which is used for patients after...
- Colon Cancer Stage 4 - Colon cancer stage 4 is the utmost degree of colon cancer. Like stage 3 colon cancer this stage is likely to be fatal. Nevertheless there are drugs that can help slow the cancer down adding precious time to your life. Some of the drug combinations include...
- Colon Cancer Survivability - Colon cancer survivability rates and other colon cancer statistics are discussed.Many assume when they’re diagnosed with colon cancer that they are destined to die with colon cancer. Surprisingly colon cancer survivability statistics are...
- Colon Polyp Surgery - Painless colon polyp surgery, polyp removal, analysis of tissue and surgery risks are discussed.During a colonoscopy you may need to get colon polyp surgery. A colon polyp is a small mass of flesh attached to the inner wall of the colon by a stalk of tissue called a pedicle. The surgery itself is simple, and...
- Colon Resection Surgery - Information about colon resection surgery, including hemi-colectomy, resulting in a colostomy are discussed.If you are diagnosed with colon cancer it may be necessary to get colon resection surgery. This page advises you to get a second opinion if your doctor recommended this surgery to be sure you have the best surgical team. A list of...
- Colon Removal Surgery - Colon removal surgery is discussed in understandable terms. A list of things to consider is provided.If you are considering having colon removal surgery you should certainly get a second opinion since it will have a big effect on your life. After colon removal surgery you will have to...
- Recovery From Colon Surgery - Recovery from Colon Surgery is described and explains what you should expect after colon surgery. During the first few days after surgery you will be on an all liquid diet including vitamins and nutritional supplements. About a week after surgery you will not need to maintain the liquid diet but will...
- Side Effects of Chemotherapy - The side effects of chemotherapy for colon cancer are described, along with management methods.Many of the side effects occur when normal, healthy cells get damaged by treatments. Fortunately, doctors now have many ways to...
- Side Effects of Radiation Treatment - The side effects of radiation treatment for colon cancer are manageable and are described here.Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy has side effects. Some side effects of radiation are...
- Bad Nurse or Bad Doctor - To many patients it may appear as though that they have a bad nurse or bad doctor sometime during their treatment. Most of the time these feelings emerge when patients sense there doctor or nurse is not empathetic or sensitive enough to their new found disease. Remember that doctors and nurses...
- Colon Cancer Support - Colon cancer support comes in many forms - medicine, therapy, discussion, help from people.
- Colon Cancer Diagnosis - A colon cancer diagnosis means you should get a second opinion.Once a patient is diagnosed with colon cancer they fear that their doctor may be inaccurate, or they might just want a second opinion, but feel it will offend their regular doctor. When facing the possibility that you may have a serious disease...
- Colon Cancer Alternative Treatment - Colon cancer alternative treatment can be a useful or harmful therapy. During chemotherapy many patients want to know if they can try alternative therapies as well. The answer is no, colon cancer alternative treatment can actually cause chemo or radiation to be less effective. The reason for this is that the antioxidants in the supplements will act as...
- History of Surgery - The history of surgery for colon cancer shows incredible progress in saving lives over the last 300 years. It all started with the Scotch surgeon John Hunter and his discovery that surgery could possibly cure some cancers. This new discovery created...
- Alternative Pain Therapy - Complementary and alternative pain therapy provides options for some patients. There are many different types of alternative pain therapy. One type is acupuncture which is...
- Colon Cancer Survival Statistics - Colon cancer survival statistics show how important it is to get early effective treatment.Colon Cancer survival statistics in the U.S are surprisingly encouraging if the cancer is caught in the earlier stages. The statistics show that...
- Colon Cancer Diet - Colon cancer diet and nutrition guidelines provides information to help the patient feel healthier and recover faster.This page discusses how it is important to maintain a healthy diet because the majority of cancer treatments cause your immune system to...
- Bowel Obstruction - Bowel obstruction can have different causes but needs immediate medical attention. A bowel obstruction often occurs when your bowel is partially or completely blocked. For colon cancer sufferers, it’s usually an indicator that you have a tumor growing in the bowel, forcing the bowel to not...
- History of Chemotherapy - The history of chemotherapy started with scientists examining the effects of military weapons. Today it is a race to cure rather than a race to kill. Chemotherapy has saved many cancer patients although there are still some...
- Cancer Centers of America - Cancer Centers of America are 4 affiliated hospitals with a unique approach to colon cancer therapy. These Centers provide "mother standard" care, meaning they treat you with unconditional support and the warmth a mother would. The doctors offer to...
- Chemotherapy Drugs List - Chemotherapy drugs list with 8 drugs used for colon cancer. Chemotherapy can involve one or more of the 8 drugs in different combinations also known as "cocktails." All of the drugs have different side effects and ...
- Palliative Chemotherapy - Palliative chemotherapy is a therapy not used to cure, but to prolong life and improve cancer symptoms. This type of chemo is used for patients whose cancer is terminal. Palliative chemotherapy can provide patients with increased physical comfort and help give...
- Cause of Infertility - For some patients chemo and radiation can be the cause of infertility. Research is going on to create drugs to prevent ovulation during chemotherapy. There is also...
- Anti Cancer Diet - An anti cancer diet after colon cancer surgery can make a huge difference in recovery and overall health. Here are practical food ideas...
- Chemo for Colon Cancer - Late stage colon cancer must be treated with chemotherapy. Many of the side effects that we used to associate with chemotherapy are now controlled or eliminated. Some types of chemotherapy can be...
- Cancer Treatment Diet - A cancer treatment diet is important because cancer treatment can cause all sorts of nutritional deficiencies. Your diet needs change throughout the stages of your treatment which is why it is best to consult a certified nutritionist or your doctor to determine what may be right for your specific situation. Keeping yourself as healthy as you can...
- Bowel Surgery - When doctors say bowels, they are referring to the last three feet or so of the digestive tract. Large bowel surgery is done for several reasons. One may be that you might have a polyp on your colon. When there is a polyp...
