What are the Benefits of Radiation Therapy for Colon Cancer?

A few of the benefits of radiation therapy for colon cancer explained.

The main benefit of radiation therapy for colon cancer is that its able to control the disease locally. This means that when a tumor grows in the abdominal cavity and it is removed by surgeon, some microscopic disease could be left behind that the surgeon could not see with his eyes.  In that case, radiation therapy for colon cancer is used to kill off any microscopic disease that there might be in order to control the disease or keep the disease from growing in the future.

There are also cases where the surgeon is unable to remove of the disease surgically and in that case, doctors will use slightly more radiation, sometimes during surgery, as well as additional radiation doses after completion of surgery in order to control the disease. Dr. Murty explains the further benefit of radiation therapy for colon cancer in the video below:

Murali G. Murty MD:  Radiation therapy can be used either preoperatively or postoperatively.  There are benefits to both.

The benefits of radiation in the treatment of colon cancer are to control the disease locally which means when a tumor grows in the abdominal cavity and it has taken out by the surgeon, there could be some microscopic disease left behind that the surgeon cannot see with his eyes.  In that case, we employ the use of radiation and kill off any microscopic disease that there might be in order to control the disease or keep the disease from growing in the future.

There are also cases where the surgeon is unable to remove of the disease surgically and in that case, we will use a little bit more radiation, some radiation during surgery, as well as radiation, that is employed after completion of surgery in order to control that disease.

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Dr. Murali Murty

Dr. Murty received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry - New Jersey Medical school. He completed his internship in internal medicine and residency in radiation oncology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia where he served as Chief Resident. He has done research and published on the radiotherapeutic treatment of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck of unknown origin and total mesorectal excision of rectal cancers. His publications also include a book chapter on the radiation of vascular tumors of the ocular fundus.

Latest posts by Dr. Murali Murty (see all)

• What are the Benefits of Radiation Therapy for Colon Cancer? - January 1, 1970
• Is Radiation Therapy a Substitute for Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer Treatment? - January 1, 1970
• What Are the Side Effects of Radiation Therapy for Colon Cancer? - January 1, 1970