Specialists in the field of gastro-intestine, oncologist, surgeons and other nurses consult together to determine the best option of medication for the patient. The factors considered include: the overall health of the patient, preferences of the patient, nutritional and family support. The types of treatment suggested are radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
Chemotherapy used is generally of two different types and they are: systemic chemotherapy and regional chemotherapy. In these types of chemotherapy, the drug is directly injected in the veins, given orally or is directly injected in the artery which passes through the bloodstream. Adjuvant chemo and neoadjuvant chemo are other forms of chemotherapy performed at different times. The neoadjuvant is given before the surgery. in an effort to shrink the tumor to make the surgical removal of the tumor easier. The after surgery chemo which is the adjuvant chemotherapy is administered after surgery and helps in the killing or stopping of the further growth of the tumor.
Some of the major drugs used for the treatment of colorectal cancer are irinotecan, oxaliplatin and trifluridine.
Neuropathy, hair loss, numbness in hand or feet, diarrhea, weight loss and mouth sores are some of the side effects of the chemotherapy drugs.
Hair loss, loss of sexual desire, diarrhea, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, depression, sweating and osteopenia are some of the major side effects seen after the chemotherapy. The process may or may not be successful depending on the patient’s capacity and health conditions.
