Is bowel cancer curable? 4 treatment options

Treatment for bowel cancer is carried out according to the stage and severity of the disease, location, size and characteristics of the tumor, and surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy may be indicated.

Bowel cancer can be cured when the diagnosis is made in the early stages of the disease and treatment is started immediately afterwards, as this makes it easier to avoid metastasis and control the development of the tumor.

1. Surgery

Surgery is usually the treatment of choice for bowel cancer and usually involves removing a portion of the affected bowel and a small part of the healthy bowel to ensure that no cancer cells remain in the area.

When the diagnosis is made in the early stages, surgery can only be done by removing a small portion of the intestine, however when the diagnosis is made in more advanced stages, it may be necessary for the person to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor. and be able to perform surgery. See how surgery for bowel cancer is performed.

Recovery after bowel cancer surgery is slow and during the post-operative period the person may experience pain, tiredness, weakness, constipation or diarrhea and the presence of blood in the stool, and it is important to inform the doctor if these symptoms are persistent.

After surgery, the doctor may recommend the use of analgesics or anti-inflammatories to promote recovery and alleviate symptoms that may appear after surgery, as well as antibiotics to prevent infections. Furthermore, depending on the extent and severity of the cancer, the doctor may recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

2. Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy may be indicated to reduce the size of the tumor, and is recommended before surgery. Furthermore, it may also be indicated with the aim of controlling symptoms and preventing the development of the tumor. Therefore, radiotherapy can be applied in different ways:

• Externa: The radiation comes from a machine, and the patient needs to go to the hospital for treatment, for a few days a week, according to the indication.
• Interna: The radiation comes from an implant containing radioactive material placed next to the tumor, and depending on the type, the patient must remain in the hospital for a few days for treatment.

The side effects of radiotherapy are generally less aggressive than those of chemotherapy, but include skin irritation in the treated area, nausea, fatigue and irritation in the rectum and bladder. These effects tend to diminish at the end of treatment, but irritation of the rectum and bladder may persist for months.

3. Chemotherapy

Like radiotherapy, chemotherapy can be used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor or as a way to control symptoms and tumor development, however this therapy can also be carried out after surgery with the aim of eliminating cells. carcinogens that have not been completely eliminated.

Therefore, the main types of chemotherapy used in bowel cancer can be:

• Adjuvant: performed after surgery to destroy cancer cells that were not removed during surgery;
• Neoadjuvant: used before surgery to shrink the tumor and facilitate its removal;
• For advanced cancer: used to reduce the size of the tumor and alleviate symptoms caused by metastases.

Some examples of drugs used in chemotherapy are Capecitabine, 5-FU and Irinotecan, which can be administered by injection or in tablet form. The main side effects of chemotherapy can be hair loss, vomiting, loss of appetite and recurrent diarrhea.

4. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses certain antibodies that are injected into the body to identify and attack cancer cells, preventing tumor growth and the chances of metastasis. These medications do not affect normal cells, thus reducing side effects. The most commonly used drugs in immunotherapy are Bevacizumab, Cetuximab or Panitumumab.

Side effects of immunotherapy in bowel cancer treatment can be rash, stomach pain, diarrhea, bleeding, sensitivity to light or breathing problems.