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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Colon and Rectum

Side Effects
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The side effects of cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment and may be different for each person. Most often the side effects are temporary. Doctors and nurses can explain the possible side effects of treatment. Patients should report severe side effects to their doctor. Doctors can suggest ways to help relieve symptoms that may occur during and after treatment.

Surgery causes short-term pain and tenderness in the area of the operation. Surgery for colorectal cancer may also cause temporary constipation or diarrhea. Patients who have a colostomy may have irritation of the skin around the stoma. The doctor, nurse, or enterostomal therapist can teach the patient how to clean the area and prevent irritation and infection.
Chemotherapy affects normal as well as cancer cells. Side effects depend largely on the specific drugs and the dose (amount of drug given). Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, and fatigue. Less often, serious side effects may occur, such as infection or bleeding.
Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, affects normal as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. Common side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue, skin changes at the site where the treatment is given, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea. Sometimes, radiation therapy can cause bleeding through the rectum (bloody stools).
Biological therapy may cause side effects that vary with the specific type of treatment. Often, treatments cause flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, weakness, and nausea.

Several useful NCI booklets, including Chemotherapy and You, Radiation Therapy and You, and Eating Hints for Cancer Patients, suggest ways for patients to cope with their side effects during cancer treatment.

The health care team can explain the possible side effects of treatment. Patients should report severe side effects. Doctors and nurses can suggest ways to help relieve symptoms that may occur during and after treatment.

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Also Recommends

1. Know What to Ask Your Doctor - Learn about a treatment option that works in a different way than traditional therapies.

2. The Cancer Patient's Workbook: Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed!

3. 50 Essential Things To Do: When the Doctor Says It's Cancer.

4. Subscribe the monthly newsletter of The Cancer Informa-
tion Network.

5. Click for cancer Books recommended by our Oncologists. You may purchase these books with discount price directly through our links with Amazon .com.

At Face Value: My Struggle With A Disfiguring Cancer - A cancer survivor's story by Terry Healey. Terry was diagnosed with Fibrosarcoma in 1984. He had extensive radiation treatment after "too many surgeries to count," and has been cancer free since 1986.

Cancer Support Group Mailing List - This is a mailing list for general cancer information, include lung cancer.

Financial Assistance for Cancer Care - provides an extensive listing of resources available that may offer financial assistance to help cover costs of cancer care.

	Top 10 Questions after Cancer Diagnosis - Virtual Hospital provides this informative lecture hitting all the major points about diagnosis and treatment.
	Ask a Physician - From Mayo Health - Do you have specific questions or concerns? Click here to ask a specialist, or browse frequently asked questions about cancer.
	Web casts - Alphacancer provides discussions between leading health professionals on a particular topic. Currently available topics include breast cancer and colon cancer.