If it is detected early, colorectal cancer may be cured with surgery alone. In later stages, you may need additional treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, to lower the risk of a return of the cancer. Your doctor may ask you to see a medical oncologist after surgery to decide whether treatment with chemotherapy is needed.

Your chance of cure depends on how far the cancer has advanced. When a cancer is removed before it has spread into the wall of the colon, more than 90% of people survive 5 years or longer. The chance of survival decreases with advanced stages.

If you have a colostomy, your healthcare team will help you learn how to live with it. Most people lead healthy, active lives with colostomies. Your doctor may suggest dietary changes that restrict gas-forming and odor-causing foods such as beans, eggs, fish, and carbonated drinks. In time, you will learn which foods you can cause problems for you.
 

Follow the treatment that you and your doctor decide is best. Seek the advice of other health professionals as needed. Also, be sure to:

• Get enough rest and sleep.
• Eat healthy foods, following your after-surgery diet instructions.
• Exercise according to your doctor's recommendations.
• Relax using techniques such as positive mental imaging, muscle relaxation exercises, and breathing exercises. Do fun activities to relieve stress.
• Talk with a mental health professional about anxiety concerning cancer if you think it might help.

If you have a colostomy:

• Learn how to take care of your colostomy.
• Learn which foods you should not eat because they cause too much gas or make it hard for you to control your bowels.
• Give yourself time to get used to the changes in your body. You may need to change how you dress to allow room for the colostomy and bag.
• Seek sexual counseling for yourself and your partner if you feel you need it.
• You may feel anger, frustration, grief, and embarrassment about the cancer and colostomy. Talk about your feelings. Let members of your care team know what you are thinking.
   

To prevent or detect recurrence of the cancer, follow the guidelines your doctor gives you. Also, you should:

• Keep all of your follow-up appointments with your doctor.
• Have routine colonoscopies to check for polyps according to your doctor's recommendations.
• Check yourself for symptoms or signs.
• Call your doctor if changes occur.

If you do not have colorectal cancer but are age 50 or older and have an average risk of colorectal cancer, it is generally recommended that you get screened for cancer by:

• having your stool checked for blood (a test called FOBT or FIT) once a year
• having a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at age 50
• having another sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years.

 

If you have a higher than normal risk for colorectal cancer, ask your doctor when and how often you should be tested for colorectal cancer. You may need to start testing before you are 50.

 

For more information on cancer, contact national and local organizations such as:

American Cancer Society, Inc.
Phone: 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
Web site: http://www.cancer.org