Treatment for advanced bowel cancer
Advanced bowel cancer is cancer that started in either the back passage (rectum) or large bowel (colon) and has spread to another part of the body.
Deciding about treatment can be difficult when you have advanced bowel cancer. Treatment can help to reduce symptoms, make you feel better and sometimes can help you to live longer.
Treatment decisions for advanced bowel cancer
Deciding about treatment can be difficult when you have advanced cancer. Treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy drugs and radiotherapy can help to reduce symptoms.
Treating symptoms of advanced bowel cancer
Symptoms of advanced bowel cancer can include sickness, pain, loss of appetite and bowel problems. There are treatments that can help.
Surgery for advanced cancer
You might have surgery if advanced bowel cancer blocks your bowel and causes symptoms of bowel obstruction. Sometimes you can have surgery to remove cancer that has spread to your liver or lungs.
Chemotherapy for advanced bowel cancer
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You might have chemotherapy for advanced bowel cancer.
Radiotherapy for advanced bowel cancer
Radiotherapy uses high energy rays similar to x-rays to kill cancer cells. It can shrink the cancer, relieve symptoms and help you feel more comfortable.
Targeted and immunotherapy drugs for advanced bowel cancer
You might have targeted or immunotherapy drugs as part of your treatment for advanced bowel cancer.
Treatment for bowel cancer that has spread to the liver
Other treatments for bowel cancer that has spread to the liver include specialised ways of giving chemotherapy and radiotherapy directly into the cancer.