After the diagnosis of cancer, the treatment options are set. Local treatments of colon cancer are also called local therapies, ie treats the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. Local therapies used for colorectal cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, ablation or embolization. These treatments are more effective at incipient stages.

Systemic therapies use drugs administered orally or intravenously. They can reach cancer cells all over the body. Depending on the type of colorectal cancer, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy are used.

Surgery

Involves tumor resection and resection of a portion of the surrounding tissue, including laparoscopic surgery, colostomy for rectal cancer, or radiofrequency ablation (cryoablation). 

Radiation therapy 

Commonly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer, with external beam radiotherapy (including stereotactic radiotherapy), intraoperative radiotherapy, brachytherapy or radiotherapy specific to rectal cancer, also called neoadjuvant therapy, to reduce tumor size and facilitate its removal.

Chemotherapy

Can be given orally or intravenously, either a single drug or a combination of medicines. It can be given after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. In the case of colorectal cancer, usually, administer chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery to reduce the size of the rectal tumor and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.