Rectal cancer treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. This eMedTV segment discusses rectal cancer treatment, including information about second opinions, clinical trials, and follow-up care.
It is common to classify rectal cancer treatment by stage, or the extent of the disease. This eMedTV article breaks down rectal cancer treatment by stage and outlines common treatments from stage 0 through stage IV and recurrent cancer.
For all stages of rectal cancer, surgery to remove the tumor is the most common form of treatment. This eMedTV segment discusses the three main types of rectal cancer surgery: local excision, resection, and resection with colostomy.
In cases of rectal cancer, chemotherapy is one of the common treatment options. This eMedTV article explains how chemotherapy is used to treat colon cancer and includes information about the possible side effects of the treatment.
As this eMedTV article explains, radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays (or other radiation) to treat rectal cancer. Radiation therapy may cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and urinary discomfort.
As this eMedTV resource explains, survival rates for rectal cancer reflect the percentage of people who survive for a specific period after their diagnosis. This article contains five-year survival rates based on staging data for this disease.
