Your treatment will depend on the size, cell type and position of your cancer.
Before you begin treatment, a doctor will discuss it with you, including the benefits and risks.
You will also be asked to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the benefits and risks of the treatment.
Surgery
The majority of patients with a colorectal cancer will need surgery. Surgery is provided at Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital.
Usually, the surgery performed for colorectal cancer is a bowel resection. This involves removing the affected part of the bowel and then rejoining the bowel together again. For some patients it may not be possible to re-join the bowel and they may require a stoma. A stoma is an opening on the outside of your abdomen for waste materials (faeces) to leave the body; into a pouch or stoma bag. A stoma care nurse looks after patients who have had a stoma formed. The stoma care nurse will provide information, education and support to patients and their families. If you require a stoma, you will meet a stoma nurse prior to your surgery who will review you whilst you are in hospital.
In many cases colorectal cancer can be cured with surgery and there may be no need for further treatment. However, in some cases, patients may require chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before or after surgery.
Macmillan has more information on:
Pre-assessment
Patients having surgery may be asked to meet one of our medical team for a pre-assessment to ensure they are fit for the procedure.
In some cases, patients are asked to have an anaesthetic assessment.
Most patients are admitted on the morning of their surgery, but some may be admitted the day before.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is given as an outpatient at Laurel House in Antrim Area Hospital. There are three ways chemotherapy can be used to treat colorectal cancer:
- Before surgery – this is used in combination with radiotherapy to shrink the bowel tumour
- After surgery – to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring
- Palliative chemotherapy – this is given to slow the spread of advanced bowel cancer and to help control any symptoms
There are many different types of chemotherapy. Some chemotherapies can be given as tablet form (oral chemotherapy), or through a drip in your arm (intravenous chemotherapy), or as a combination of both. Treatments are typically in cycles which are 2 to 3 weeks long, and can go on for up to 6 months. This will depend on the stage of cancer.
Macmillan has information on:
Read more information on having treatment in Laurel House Chemotherapy Unit.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is generally used to treat rectal cancer and this takes place as an outpatient at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre (Belfast City Hospital) or the North West Cancer Centre (Altnagelvin Hospital).