How to Explore Biological Therapy for Colon Cancer Treatment

Biological therapy, often called immunotherapy, uses the body's immune system to combat cancer. In the case of cancer that develops in the colon, biological therapy may be used in conjunction with surgery to reduce polyps and tumors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Oncologist

1. Consider your overall personal risk profile. Colon cancer is more prominent in people over age of 50 and those with a family history of colon cancer. Cigarettes, alcohol, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and obesity are also contributors to colon cancer. In addition, Jews of Eastern European descent and African Americans have higher rates colon cancer. Consider these risk factors when deciding if you want to rely solely on biological therapy or add it to your current treatment.

2. Explore the National Cancer Institute's Question and Answer section on biological therapy for cancer (see Resources below). Learn more about the types of biological colon cancer treatment. These include gene therapy, interleukins, monoclonal antibodies, colony-stimulating factors and interferons.

3. Ask your doctor for his or her opinion of biological therapy. All doctors, including oncologists, are expected to stay up to date on current cancer treatments, so yours should have some knowledge of biological therapy and its potential results.

4. Contact clinics directly to find out more about their biological therapy treatments. You can ask for an appointment or request a brochure. Use the National Institute for Cancer's Web site (see resources below) to locate contact information for these clinics.

5. Expect to change your diet. Because biological therapy works with your immune system, you cannot count on the prescribed vitamins and herbs alone. You must change your entire lifestyle, starting with your diet. A diet that is high in fat from animal sources can increase the risk of colorectal cancer recurring.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel your treatment is not working, ask your doctor to help you explore your other options, like research studies on biological therapy. He or she may have an inside line on new studies and clinical trials that aren't being advertised.
• Be sure to read the fine print when signing up for a research study. While biological therapy is usually beneficial, always be aware of your legal rights should something go awry.
• Immunotherapy can be a long process that does not provide the feeling of immediate treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy. The waiting game can cause added stress to your cancer experience. Discuss with your doctor if you can take anti-anxiety or antidepression medications to help you cope with the psychological effects of diagnosis and treatment. Many such prescriptions do not interfere with biological therapy.

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[kingrook]

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