Explore treatment options for bowel cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Treatment options by type of bowel cancer
- What to do before treatment
- Making treatment decisions
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
Overview
This section covers treatment for stages 1–3 bowel cancer. Your health care team will recommend treatment based on what will give you the best outcome, where the cancer is in the bowel, if and how or where the cancer has spread, your general health, and your preferences.
Colon cancer and rectal cancer are treated differently. The treatments you are offered will depend on the guidelines for best practice in treating bowel cancer. You may have more than one treatment and treatments may be given in different orders and combinations.
Read about treatment options for advanced bowel cancer.
Treatment options by type of bowel cancer
Colon cancer | Rectal cancer |
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Preparing for treatment (prehabilitation)
Prehabilitation may improve your strength, help you cope with side effects and improve treatment. If you are feeling anxious or stressed, ask for a referral to a counsellor/psychologist or call Cancer Council on 13 11 20.
 | Manage anaemiaMany people with bowel cancer have anaemia or low iron levels. You may be given iron as tablets or injections to increase your iron levels and red blood cell count (haemoglobin level) before starting treatment. |
 | Give up smokingIf you smoke, you will be encouraged to stop before surgery. Smoking may increase the risk of complications, delay wound healing and recovery, and worsen side effects after other treatments. For support, call Quitline on 13 7848. |
 | Improve diet and nutritionPeople with bowel cancer often lose weight and may be malnourished. If it’s hard to eat enough, a dietitian can suggest ways to limit weight loss, reduce blockages and make bowel movements easier. This will help improve your strength and lead to better treatment outcomes. |
 | Avoid alcoholTalk to your doctor about how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol can affect how the body works and increase the risk of complications after surgery, including bleeding and infections. |
 | Begin or continue an exercise programExercise will help build up your strength for recovery. Talk to your doctor, exercise physiologist or physiotherapist about any precautions you should take, and the amount and type of exercise that is right for you. |
→ READ MORE: Bowel cancer surgery
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof Alexander Heriot, Colorectal Surgeon and Director Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Director, Lower GI Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Cameron Bell, Gastroenterologist, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Graham Borgas, Consumer; Prof Michael Bourke, Director of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, NSW; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC; Amanda Connolly, Specialist Bowel Care Nurse, Icon Cancer Centre Windsor Gardens, SA; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, Operations Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Anne Marie Lyons, Stomal Therapy Nurse, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and NSW Stoma Ltd, NSW; Lisa Nicholson, Manager Bowel Care Services, Bowel Cancer Australia, NSW; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Rafi Sharif, Consumer; Dr Kirsten van Gysen, Radiation Oncologist, The Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Sarah Williams, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lower GI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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