Radiation Therapy for Colon, Rectum and Anus Cancers

Treating Colon, Rectum and Anus Cancers

Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy to treat cancers of the colon, rectum and anus.

• The primary treatment for colon cancer is surgery. Your doctor may also recommend radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, depending on the location and stage of your cancer.
• For some rectal cancers, radiation therapy is given with chemotherapy to make the tumor smaller so it can be removed more easily during surgery. Other times, radiation is given after surgery to keep the cancer from returning.
• Anal cancer can often be treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, without surgery.