MultiCare Health System

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States. It occurs most often in people who are older than 50. When it is caught in its early stages, it is easily treated and often cured. But because it is usually not discovered early, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

In colorectal cancer, abnormal cells grow in the large intestine (colon and rectum). Cancers of the colon and the rectum are often talked about together as colorectal cancer because they have so much in common.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

During your treatment, you will work with a team of doctors and professionals dedicated to helping you choose the most effective colorectal cancer treatment plan that meets your needs. The following are the most common forms of treatment. Your doctor can explain each option more thoroughly, and help you determine which option, or combination of treatments, is best for you.

Surgery. For many colorectal cancer patients, surgery is often one element of the treatment process. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor. If the cancer is found early, you may need only a simple procedure, called a polypectomy, in which a doctor removes small polyps found in the colon or rectum during a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. You and your doctor will work together to determine the surgical treatment options that may be best for you.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is standard treatment for some types of cancer in the rectum. Radiation therapy is often combined with surgery or chemotherapy. Compared to surgery alone, radiation therapy given before surgery for rectal cancer may reduce the risk that the cancer will return.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. These drugs are designed to work by interfering with the rapidly dividing cancer cells in your body. Your doctor may suggest chemotherapy as a form of treatment before or after surgery. Chemotherapy is usually administered intravenously (through the vein) or orally in the form of pills. Your doctor may recommend additional medications to help alleviate chemotherapy-related side effects.

In addition to the therapies described above, MultiCare offers complementary and alternative therapies such as nutritional therapy, physical therapy and emotional counseling. Our physicians and staff are with you every step of the way in your cancer journey.

To learn more about the treatment that’s right for you, call the MultiCare Regional Cancer Center at 253-403-2346 or the Dr. Richard C. Ostenson Cancer Center at 253-697-HOPE.

They can help you choose the next step that's right for you.