Treatment 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. 

Symptoms of metastatic bowel cancer can include sickness, pain, loss of appetite and bowel problems. There are treatments that can help. 

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 uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You might have chemotherapy for bowel cancer that has spread.

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.

You might have targeted or immunotherapy drugs as part of your treatment for advanced bowel cancer.

Other treatments for bowel cancer that has spread to the liver include specialised ways of giving chemotherapy and radiotherapy directly into the cancer.