Biological treatment tries to get the body to fight cancer. It uses materials made by the body or made in a laboratory to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against disease. Treatment by stage Treatments for cancer of the colon depend on the stage of the disease and the patient's general health. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.
Clinical trials are ongoing in most parts of the country for most stages of cancer of the colon.
Radiation therapy to relieve symptoms. If the cancer has spread to several parts of the body, a doctor may give a patient either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The patient may also choose to participate in a clinical trial testing new chemotherapy drugs or biological therapy.