Chemo for Colon Cancer

It is used primarily when there is a concern your colon cancer will come back after surgery.

Colon cancer chemotherapy operates on a systemic level which allows it to travel through your bloodstream to reach all areas of your body.

Chemotherapy medications are usually given intravenously, or pill form (orally).

There are different medications, doses and schedules for each chemotherapy regimen.

Chemo for Colon Cancer

With stage 2 and 3 colon cancer Fluorouracil based chemotherapy seems to affect the colon cancer survival rate rather than just delaying a tumor reoccurrence. Both treatments combined have resulted in 7% improvement in survival rates over 8 years compared to just surgery itself.

The most vulnerable period for relapse is your first two years after treatment. This is where combined surgery and chemotherapy carry the most advantage. During this critical time it can reduce the rate of reoccurrence by up to 40%!

However the benefits and cure rate for combined therapy do not seem to be as great for older patients as compared to young.

About 50% of colon cancer patients are over the age of 70. Of those over 70, about half with colon cancer will survive the next five years. Patients that have reoccurrences will usually relapse within the first 3 years.

There are three different types of chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Primary Chemo for Colon Cancer

Adjuvant Chemo for Colon Cancer

Neoadjuvant Chemo for Colon Cancer

Alongside chemotherapy and surgery, radiation treatment is often prescribed for even greater cure success rates.

The most popular chemotherapy medication for colon cancer in recent years has been 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). It is often used in combination with a vitamin called Leucovorin (a folic acid derivative) which allows 5-FU to work better. 5-FU is typically given intravenously, although a recent oral formulation called Xeloda has been developed in case your colon cancer has spread to other organs.

Other chemotherapy medications used for colon cancer that have spread to other parts of your body include; Avastin, Camptosar, Eloxatin, and Erbitux. Avastin and Eloxatin are typically taken alongside 5-FU..

Although chemotherapy kills cancer cells, it unfortunately also kills other healthy cells within your body as well. Chemotherapy typically kills the fastest dividing cells such as membranes lining your; hair follicles, gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and bone marrow. Most of the side effects you experience with chemotherapy are from the death of these cells.

Colon Cancer Chemotherapy Side Effects

- Diarrhea

- Loss of appetite

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Rash on feet and hands

- Bone marrow deterioration

Chemotherapy’s other common side effect is diminished bone marrow function. This results in lower white blood cells leading to greater infection rates, lower platelets resulting in bleeding and bruising, and lower red blood cells resulting in anemia and fatigue.

The side effects of chemotherapy general stop upon finishing therapy. Depending on the specific medications given for colon cancer you will get different side effects. For example hair loss with colon cancer chemotherapy is not as common as other chemotherapy treatments for other types of cancer.