Surgery

Surgery is the main treatment. It requires removal of the cancerous tumor and nearby colon tissue. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the surgery may be done by:

• Laparoscopy—Removal of early-stage cancer.
• Open surgery—To remove tumors, colon tissue, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes. The surgeon will also look for additional cancer in the colon during the surgery.

In some cases, the tumor and nearby healthy colon tissue will be removed. Healthy tissue is removed in case the cancer has begun to spread. The removal of a part of the colon is called a hemicolectomy. In most cases, the remaining healthy portions of the colon are reconnected. Sometimes, the end of the healthy colon is temporarily or permanently attached to an opening in the abdomen. This is called a colostomy. It allows body waste to pass out of the body if the colon cannot do so.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is directed at the site of the tumor from a source outside the body. This therapy is aimed at the immediate area of the cancer.

Chemotherapy

This therapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be given in many forms, including pill, injection, and catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells. They can also kill some healthy cells. This therapy is systemic, meaning it affects your entire body.

If you are diagnosed with colon cancer, follow your doctor's instructions.

Screening

The causes of most cancers are not known. However, it is possible to prevent many colon and rectal cancers by finding and removing polyps that could become cancerous. Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk should follow one of five screening options:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• X-rays of the colon and rectum with double-contrast barium enema every five years
• CT colonography every five years

Be sure to discuss these cancer screening tools with your doctor to see which option is best for you.

People with any of the following risk factors should begin colon and rectal cancer screening at age 40 or earlier and/or undergo screening more often:

• Strong family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps
• Known family history of hereditary colon or rectal cancer syndromes
• Personal history of colon and rectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
• Personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Lifestyle Changes

There are also lifestyle changes that may reduce your risk of colon cancer, such as:

• Not smoking
• Being physically active, including, exercising at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a high-fiber diet containing fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes
• Making other changes to your diet, like eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, not eating a lot of red meat, and not abusing alcohol