Hearing the words “You have colon cancer” can feel overwhelming and frightening. If you or someone you love is facing this diagnosis, it helps to know that treatment continues to move forward with real progress and new hope. Targeted therapies are helping people with colon cancer live longer and maintain a better quality of life during and after treatment.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and rates are rising, including among younger adults. Screening beginning at age 45 can help detect cancer early, when it is most treatable. If cancer is found, your care team will create a personalized treatment plan designed around you and your specific needs. Visit us online to schedule your colonoscopy or to learn more about these therapies.[JZ1]
Understanding your treatment options
For early-stage colon cancer, surgery remains the primary treatment and may be followed by chemotherapy or immunotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. When colon cancer has spread beyond the colon, chemotherapy is often combined with targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Each treatment plan is carefully tailored to the stage of cancer and your overall health.
It is normal to feel confused by treatment terms and options. Your care team will walk you through each step so you can make informed decisions with clarity and confidence. We are here to support you, answer your questions and help you feel steady and cared for at every stage of your journey.
How targeted therapies work
Chemotherapy works by attacking rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, which can affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. This is one reason significant side effects can occur. Targeted therapies work differently by focusing on specific pathways that cancer cells use to grow and spread.
In colon cancer, certain targeted therapies block growth signals such as EGFR or prevent tumors from forming new blood vessels through VEGF pathways. Other therapies focus on specific genetic changes like HER2 overexpression or BRAF mutations. These targeted therapies are more precise, which means side effects are often different and frequently more manageable.
Personalizing care through biomarker testing
Every colon cancer is unique, which is why comprehensive molecular testing is now a standard part of care. This testing looks for biomarkers in the tumor, including MSI and MMR status, that help guide treatment decisions. The results provide important information about how your cancer behaves and which therapies may work best for you.
Your doctor also considers factors such as tumor location (left or right side) and your overall health. Together, this information allows your team to design a treatment plan that is thoughtful, precise and centered on you. Precision oncology offers reassurance that therapy can be tailored as closely as possible to your specific diagnosis.
Improving outcomes and quality of life
Over the past two decades, outcomes for metastatic colon cancer have improved significantly. Where life expectancy once averaged just over a year, many patients now live more than two years, with some experiencing long-term remission. Advances in targeted therapy have played an important role in this progress.
Quality of life has also improved as treatments become more refined. Side effects are often predictable and manageable, allowing many patients to continue daily activities and spend meaningful time with loved ones. Hope today looks different than it did a generation ago.
The promise of clinical trials
Research continues to open new doors in colon cancer care. Clinical trials are exploring innovative treatments, including antibody-drug conjugates and therapies guided by circulating tumor DNA. Each study brings us closer to more precise and effective care.
Participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision, and your care team can help you determine whether one may be right for you. These studies provide access to emerging therapies while carefully monitoring safety and outcomes, and they play an essential role in developing more effective treatment options for future cancer patients.
Care at Endeavor Health
At Endeavor Health, every patient with colon cancer receives comprehensive molecular testing to help guide personalized treatment decisions. Your care team considers biomarkers, MSI and MMR status, tumor characteristics and your overall health to design a thoughtful plan that may include the latest targeted therapies. Our goal is to help you live longer and feel better, minimizing side effects whenever possible while protecting the moments and quality of life that matter most to you.
If you are 45 or older, Endeavor Health encourages you to schedule a colonoscopy and take an important step in protecting your health. If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, you will be met with expertise, innovation and kindness every step of the way. You deserve care that is progressive, precise and deeply committed to helping you live your best life. Visit Endeavor Health online to schedule your colonoscopy appointment.
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