Treatment for bowel cancer

Main treatments for bowel cancer

The treatment you'll have for bowel cancer depends on:

• the size of the cancer
• if the cancer is in your colon or rectum, or both
• if it has spread to other parts of your body
• if the cancer has certain genetic changes
• your age and general health

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines.

Your specialist treatment team will:

• explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
• work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
• help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

Surgery

Surgery may be carried out to remove cancer from the bowel. Part or all of the bowel around the cancer may also need to be removed.

To help your recovery, you may need a colostomy or ileostomy, which may be temporary or permanent.

You’ll be supported through surgery and recovery by your specialist treatment team.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is medicine that kills cancer cells.

You may have chemotherapy for bowel cancer:

• after surgery to try to stop the cancer coming back
• if you're unable to have surgery
• if cancer has spread to other parts of your body

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells. A machine is used to target beams of radiation directly at tumours.

You may have radiotherapy for bowel cancer if:

• you have cancer in your rectum
• the cancer has spread to other parts of your body

Targeted medicines and immunotherapy

Targeted medicines kill cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is where medicines are used to help your immune system kill cancer.

Targeted medicines or immunotherapy are sometimes used to treat advanced bowel cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

What happens if you've been told your cancer cannot be cured

If you've been diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer, it may be hard to treat and not possible to cure.

The aim of treatment will be to slow down the growth and spread of the cancer, to help with the symptoms, and help you live longer.

Finding out cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.

You'll be referred to a team of doctors and nurses called a symptom control team or palliative care team.

They will help you to manage your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.

The palliative care team can also help you and your loved ones get any other support you need.