Chemotherapy Or Surgery..? On which cases...?

Question

Why and on which cases are surgery and chemotherapy used with cancer? My grandmother has a 2cm cancerous tumour in her colon, near her anus. Its in the early stages. How dangerous do you think it is? She's in moderate health, nothing else bad going on, but the downside is she's 70 years old. The cause of her cancer was frequent constipation.

So what do think they should/would do?

Answer 1

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network publishes patient and professional clinical guidelines for each type of cancer. These are the tradional protocols that will be offered to cancer patients depending on their cancer, stage, and grade of tumor. You can read about the patient guidelines for colon/rectal cancer:

http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_gls/_english/_colon/contents.asp

And the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology- Colon Cancer
http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/colon.pdf

The best thing that you can do right now is read as much as possible about this type of cancer, ask the doctor questions, and determine the course of treatment. It is imperative that your grandmother find an oncologist that she trusts and than follow that advice.

ACS: All about Colon and Rectum cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=LRN&dt=10

NCI: Colon and Rectal Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal

And a support group:
Cancer Care
http://www.cancercare.org/

Colon Cancer Alliance
http://www.ccalliance.org/

Colorectal Cancer Discussion List
http://listserv.acor.org/archives/colon.html

Best wishes.

Answer 2

Your grandmother, at 70, is still young. My mother had colon cancer resected at age 80+ & she is still going strong, several years later. Her surgeon was sure that he got it all out during surgery, so she didn't need chemo or radiation.
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Here is some add'l info for you on colon cancer, from the Mayo Clinic's website:
Surgery is the primary treatment for most patients. Mayo offers several innovative procedures that avoid a colostomy. Biological therapy uses the body's immune system to combat cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often combined with surgery in patients whose initial cancer has an increased risk of relapse if treated with surgery alone, such as when the tumor extends beyond the colon wall or lymph nodes are involved. These combined treatments may also be indicated for patients whose cancers relapse at the primary site or in nearby lymph nodes after initial treatment.

Answer 3

I will pray for her.
I am not sure about colon cancer, all cancers are treated different. I had breast cancer 2x, in 1 year. I had surgery first, then chemo and rads, it just depends.

God Bless

Answer 4

Add daily some ground flax-seed and lots of other fruit to the diet. Also, look up Gary Hull, PhD Scientist and see what he prescribes. He's a genius.

Answer 5

ill Pray your Grandmother to get well soon... i hope after this a few hours later or tomorrow.. your worried is no more..