Treatment for bowel (rectal) cancer

A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. The main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy.

The type of surgery you have for cancer of the back passage (rectum) depends on the position and stage of your cancer.

You might have chemotherapy on its own or with radiotherapy. Fluorouracil, capecitabine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan are drugs used for rectal cancer.

Treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy together is called chemoradiotherapy. You might have this treatment for cancer of the back passage (rectal cancer).

Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to kill bowel cancer cells. It is a treatment for cancer of the back passage (rectal cancer).

All treatments must be fully researched before they can be adopted as standard treatment for everyone. Find out about research into bowel (colorectal) cancer, as well as how to take part in clinical trials.

After treatment, you have regular check ups and tests at the hospital. The doctors check how you are and see whether you have any problems or worries.