Colon cancer treatment options
Colon cancer is highly treatable when discovered early. Up to 90 percent of patients whose colorectal cancer is diagnosed and treated in the early stages can be cured.
Cancer research advances over the past decade have led to significant improvements in colon cancer care. At Penn Medicine, we create a tailored treatment plan for you, using today’s latest therapies and tools. Our experts develop that plan based on many technical details (including colon cancer cells’ DNA) and your personal input. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these or other treatments.
Types of colon cancer surgery
Colon cancer surgery is the main treatment for early-stage colon cancers. For cancers that have spread, surgery also plays a major role in providing the best possible outcomes. The size, stage, and location of the tumor often determine the procedure we recommend. Sometimes, we confirm your diagnosis and tumor stage through surgery as well.
At Penn Medicine, our experienced colorectal surgeons are skilled in procedures that treat every stage of colon cancer. We provide comprehensive colon cancer surgery options, including minimally invasive procedures. Our colorectal surgeons also partner with doctors in other specialties, including medical oncology, to provide you with a care plan that considers your whole health to produce the best possible outcome.
Colorectal doctors can perform polypectomies and local excisions during routine colonoscopies. They access early-stage cancers and colon polyps by inserting a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) into the colon via the rectum. Most polyps are harmless, but some can become cancer.
During a polypectomy, your colon cancer surgeon removes any polyps from the wall of the colon. As part of this local excision, the surgeon removes the cancer and a small amount of healthy surrounding tissue, called a margin.
During a colectomy, your surgeon removes all or part of the colon along with nearby lymph nodes:
- Segmented colon resection: This procedure, also called a hemicolectomy or partial colectomy, involves removing the part of the colon where the tumor is located. Surgeons then attach the remaining colon sections together.
- Total colectomy: Because this procedure removes the entire colon, doctors don’t do total colectomies unless there are problems in the areas of the colon that do not have cancer.
If tumors are blocking the colon, your doctor may recommend a diverting colostomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes only the tumor. The surgeon does this by:
- Making an incision above the section of the colon that has the tumor.
- Attaching the top section of the colon to a surgically made opening in your abdomen (stoma).
- Attaching a small bag to the stoma to collect stool.
Metastatic colon cancer is colon cancer that has spread beyond the colon to other organs, often the liver or lungs. We may recommend surgery to remove these liver or lung tumors, along with the colon cancer.
For these complex situations, our colorectal, gastrointestinal, and thoracic surgeons work closely together, sometimes during the same operation, to provide coordinated care. Our surgeons also partner with our medical oncologists to optimize the timing of surgeries with needed chemotherapy treatments.
You may also receive a hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump during metastatic colon cancer surgery. These pumps are about the size of a hockey puck. They provide concentrated doses of chemotherapy directly to any metastatic colon cancers in the liver.
This treatment provides an additional option for patients who are not responding to traditional chemotherapy treatments. It can also prevent cancer recurrence (when cancer returns). Penn Medicine is the only medical center in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey area that offers hepatic artery infusion pumps.
Types of nonsurgical colon cancer treatments
When you come to Penn Medicine for your colon cancer treatment, you have access to a range of options, including the latest treatments through clinical trials. These may even include advanced treatments that are not yet widely available.
Your doctor may recommend one or more systemic medications to treat cancer throughout your body. These drugs treat cancer in different ways.
Penn’s medical oncologists are experts at treating colon and similar GI cancers. This in-depth knowledge helps us recommend medicines that will destroy cancer cells while causing you less discomfort.
Medical oncology treatments include:
As one of the nation’s largest centers dedicated to studying tumors of the digestive tract, we strive to expand treatment options for patients with all types and stages of colon cancer. Clinical trials may offer additional options for your treatment.
Metastatic colon cancer happens when colon cancer cells spread to areas outside the colon, such as the liver. At Penn Medicine, our specialists are known worldwide for their expertise in treating advanced colon cancer cases.
We offer:
- HIPEC (heated/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy): Penn Medicine was one of the first centers in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey region to offer this specialized surgical procedure. It treats cancer that has spread to the abdominal cavity with a powerful dose of chemotherapy medicine.
- Advanced therapies for metastatic liver tumors: Our interventional radiologists use minimally invasive procedures, such as chemoembolization, to treat metastatic liver tumors while sparing nearby healthy tissues. We are the only center in the greater Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Princeton area to offer hepatic artery infusion pumps (a specialized type of surgical chemotherapy pump).
Wide-ranging treatments for colon cancer
Penn Medicine offers a full array of advanced treatments for colon cancer, including leading-edge targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other new treatments. Your plan may include these options.
Comprehensive colon cancer surveillance
Colon cancer treatment is evolving in promising ways. We test every cancer to learn about its genetic and molecular makeup. What we learn helps us determine which treatments are most likely to benefit you. And after treatment ends, our team follows you closely to monitor any changes in your health. Periodic colon cancer screenings, lab tests, and check-ups help our doctors detect a possible cancer recurrence early.
GI cancer program: Getting nutritional support during treatment
Colon cancer can significantly impact your daily life. At our Gastrointestinal Cancer program, we understand the critical role of nutrition in your fight and recovery. We offer comprehensive support through registered dietitians who specialize in gastrointestinal cancers.
Our dietitians can help you navigate specific challenges caused by colon cancer and its treatment, including changes in diet, digestion, and eating habits. They work closely with you to develop a personalized nutrition plan that optimizes your tolerance and response to therapy, ultimately promoting a smoother recovery.
If your treatment plan includes surgery, our specialized Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation Clinic (CARE) goes a step further. This team-based approach brings together nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and other professionals to address all aspects of your health before surgery. They’ll optimize your diet, lifestyle habits, and overall well-being, setting you up for successful surgery and recovery.
Colon cancer treatment: The Penn Medicine advantage
Penn Medicine’s GI specialists understand the nuances of colon cancer treatment. You can trust our team to make research-based recommendations that reflect your lifestyle and input.
Notable features of our colon cancer program include:
- Surgical precision: Colon cancer treatment often requires surgery. Our highly skilled team includes well-known colorectal surgeons with unique expertise in treating all forms of primary and metastatic colon cancer.
- Advanced treatment options: Subspecialty training enables our experts to offer the most promising colon cancer treatment developments. Our robust GI Cancer Research Program may give you more choices, such as a targeted therapy still in clinical trials.
- Team mindset: Pathologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, and other cancer specialists regularly discuss the details of your case. More eyes lead to a precise diagnosis and treatment recommendations based on a wealth of expertise.
- Continuing support: Our oncology nurse and patient navigators ensure you see the right specialist for your needs and help you plan the next steps in your care. We can guide you to Penn Medicine’s many cancer support services, including palliative care services, to help you manage side effects.
- Cancer expertise close to home: Our doctors’ close coordination across Penn Medicine locations brings high-quality cancer care closer to where you live for convenient, compassionate care.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.