Treating colon and rectal cancer with radiation
Using radiation to fight colorectal cancer.
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is sometimes used to fight colorectal cancer.
It uses X-rays or other types of radiation to either kill cancer cells or reduce
tumor size.
Radiation therapy is often used to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery.
If the size or location of a tumor make it difficult to remove surgically, radiation
may also be used before surgery to reduce tumor size. It may also be used to ease
symptoms of more advanced cancer, such as blockage, bleeding issues, or pain.
With surgery for rectal cancer, radiation is often used to help reduce the risk
of cancer from returning to the site where it began.
Two main types of radiation therapy are used:
- External radiation, which is directed to the cancer site from a machine located
outside the body
- Internal radiation, which comes from radioactive material inside thin tubes or pellets
that are placed directly next to or in the tumor
Learn about chemotherapy and colon and rectal cancer