colon cancer treatment

Colon Cancer Chemotherapy:
As one of the treatment options for colon cancer, chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. The drugs either kill the cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be administered orally, injected into a vein, or placed directly in an area of the body. When used to treat people with colon cancer, chemotherapy may cause side effects, including an increased risk of infection, hair loss,An Overview of Colon Cancer Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for colon cancer uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken orally or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body. This is called systemic chemotherapy. When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity (such as the abdomen), the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. This is called regional chemotherapy.

Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery may be used for colon cancer treatment when the cancer has spread to the liver. This involves blocking the hepatic artery (the main artery that supplies blood to the liver) and injecting anticancer drugs between the blockage and the liver. The liver's arteries then deliver the drugs throughout the liver. Only a small amount of the drug reaches other parts of the body. The blockage may be temporary or permanent, depending on what is used to block the artery. The liver continues to receive some blood from the hepatic portal vein, which carries blood from the stomach and intestine.

The way the colon cancer chemotherapy is administered depends on the stage of colon cancer being treated.

Side Effects Associated With Colon Cancer Chemotherapy
Side effects associated with colon cancer chemotherapy depend mainly on the specific drugs used and the dose. In general, anticancer drugs affect cells that divide rapidly, especially:

•Blood cells. These cells fight infection, help the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When drugs affect blood cells, patients are more likely to get infections, bruise or bleed easily, or feel very weak and tired.

•Cells in hair roots. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. The hair grows back, but sometimes the new hair is somewhat different in color and texture.

•Cells that line the digestive tract. Chemotherapy can cause poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores. Many of these side effects can be controlled with drugs. nausea, vomiting, and lip sores.