Treatment and Prevention
There are three possible treatments for colon cancer: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Surgery is the treatment most likely to cure colon cancer, but it's only used for people with stage I to stage III cancer. If you're diagnosed with stage III cancer, you will have to undergo radio- or chemotherapy in addition to surgery. The same is often true of stage II tumors.
Polyps can be removed without surgery. An endoscope is fitted with special cutters for the task.
The best way to prevent colon cancer is to avoid risky behaviors like smoking, and to improve your diet. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise also reduce your risk.
Diets high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber have been shown to help prevent colon cancer. There is also evidence to suggest that the following supplements may protect you:
- aspirin* (one a day)
- selenium (a mineral)
- turmeric (a spice)
However, more studies are still being done to confirm this.
Above all, get screened for polyps if you have risk factors. People who have had polyps removed are at more than twice the average risk of colon cancer for their age. People who leave them in, however, are at eight times normal risk.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.