Patients may also take part in clinical trials which are used to assess new treatments for cancer. Patients are generally treated by a team of specialists, which may include a radiologist, gastroenterologist, a colorectal surgeon or surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. These added therapies can improve the cure rate, and may be given before or after the surgery. Ablation is often reserved for the treatment of technically unresectable disease. Recurrent cancer may also develop at the original site of the colorectal cancer.
Treatment varies depending on the area involved.
For widespread disease that cannot be surgically resected, the primary treatment is often chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can improve the quality of life and may increase survival. Clinical trials Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions for patients. There are different types of cancer clinical trials, such as prevention trials, early detection trials, and treatment trials. If you take part in a clinical trial, you may benefit from a new drug, procedure, or symptom-control method while helping scientists evaluate its effectiveness.