There are different types of treatment for patients with bowel cancer or metastatic bowel cancer, depending on where the cancer is located in the body (i.e. the colon or rectum).

While surgery is the most common treatment for removing the cancer from your bowel, some people may also require chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to reduce the size of the tumour and prevent progression of the disease.

If surgery is not an option, then chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted and immunotherapy therapy may be offered to halt progression of the disease and to help control the symptoms.

Biomarker testing can also help identify your tumour’s unique genes, helping your treatment team to develop a personalised treatment plan just for you.

Treatment for bowel cancer is decided by:

  • Where the cancer is in your bowel
  • How big the tumour is
  • The number, size and position of any tumours outside the bowel (including lymph nodes)
  • The type of cancer cells – their cell type and genetic makeup
  • Your general health and fitness
  • Your wishes as the patient

It will also be determined by:

  • Medical guidelines for best practice in treating bowel cancer
  • The availability of different treatment options within your local hospital
  • The access to clinical trials available within your local hospital
  • How well you respond to the treatments
  • The impact of any side-effects you may experience as a result of treatment

Bowel cancer surgery & treatment

Learning that you have bowel cancer can be overwhelming.

Bowel Caner Australia’s resource is to help you receive the best care and assist with discussions with your medical team about your treatment options. 

While surgery is the most common treatment for removing the cancer from your bowel, some people may also require chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to reduce the size of the tumour and prevent progression of the disease.

Bowel cancer
Surgery for bowel cancer What happens during surgery? During surgery the piece of bowel that contains the cancer is removed and the two open ends…
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Metastatic bowel cancer
Treatment for metastatic bowel cancer If your cancer is advanced when it is first diagnosed you may be offered chemotherapy to keep it under control….
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Ileostomy & colostomy
Sometimes, during surgery, it may be necessary for the surgeon to form an artificial opening on the the wall of your abdomen called a ‘stoma’…
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Biomarkers
You are unique. So is your tumour.
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Chemotherapy
What is Chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by…
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Radiation therapy
What are the side effects? Radiation therapy can destroy cancer cells, but it can also have an effect on some of the surrounding normal cells….
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Targeted & immunotherapy
Targeted therapy The development of targeted therapy, or precision medicine, is an exciting step in the treatment of metastatic bowel cancer as it may make…
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Biosimilars
What are biosimilars? A medicine made from living organisms, such as protein, bacteria or yeast, is known as a biological medicine. Since the 1980s, hundreds…
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Support for you

Bowel Cancer Australia’s essential support services are uniquely designed for you.

Email, call of video chat confidentially with one of our friendly nurses, nutritionists, or psychosocial support worker, plus access our resources, peer-to-peer buddy program, support group or podcast.