If you have colon cancer learn more about your treatment options.
How colon cancer is treated is based on the stage of colon cancer, as well as other factors that our Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer & Mat-Su Valley, AK, gastroenterologists will need to determine before we can begin treatment. If cancer has not spread to other areas, surgery is often the most common and only course of action required; however, chemotherapy is sometimes needed. Here’s what you need to know about the different stages and types of cancer treatment needed.
Stage 0
Stage 0 colon cancer means that cancer is only in the lining of the colon and has not spread to any other area. This means that a local incision surgery can remove cancer or the cancerous polyp without needing further treatment such as chemotherapy.
Stage I
Stage I colon cancer means that the cancer has been found within the deep layers of the colon but has still not moved into the lymph nodes or surrounding areas. If a cancerous polyp was detected during your colonoscopy, our Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer & Mat-Su Valley, AK, gastroenterologists could easily remove the colon cancer. Usually, no additional treatment is needed; however, if cancer cells are found around the polyp, additional surgery may be necessary.
Stage II
Stage II colon cancer means that cancer has been found not only in the wall of the colon but also in neighboring tissue; however, the cancer has not yet moved to the lymph nodes. Again, only one surgery may be necessary to remove the cancer, but your doctor may recommend chemotherapy along with surgery if there is a likelihood that cancer could come back. It’s important to talk with our team about the risks and benefits of undergoing chemotherapy.
Stage III
Stage III colon cancer is characterized by cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. The common treatment is surgery that will remove the part of the cancerous colon along with any lymph nodes that may be affected. After surgery, chemotherapy is advised. If for some reason, surgery cannot be performed to remove colon cancer, chemotherapy and radiation may be used together to shrink the colon cancer so that it can be surgically removed later.
Stage IV
Stage IV means that the colon cancer has spread to other tissue and organs in the body, such as the liver, lungs and brain. At this stage, surgery is often not likely to cure colon cancer, but surgery may be used to remove cancer in certain organs. Chemotherapy is usually performed after surgery. If surgery cannot be performed, chemo is the standard course of action to treat the cancer.
We know that a colon cancer diagnosis can be scary, but our Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer & Mat-Su Valley, AK, team at Alaska Digestive and Liver Disease is here for you every step of the way. Call us today at (907) 569-1333 to schedule a consultation.