Colorectal Cancer: In Treatment: Chemotherapy

There are likely other treatments to consider. Discuss alternatives with your doctor.

If your situation is unusual, consider researching other treatments yourself or ask a family member or friend to do it for. For information about medical research and how to do it, click here. Alternatively, you can hire a medical research service.  (For information, click here.)

• Watch for quack treatments. To learn how to spot a phony treatment, click here.
• Discuss what you find with your doctor. 
• If you feel as if you need one, get a second opinion from a qualified, experienced specialist who is not connected with your doctor – preferably from a doctor who is with a NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center . A second and even a third opinion will likely be covered by your health insurance. If you do not have insurance, second opinions do not have to be expensive. TO learn how to get a second opinion, click here. 
• A consultation with a doctor who specializes in treating pain (a palliative-care specialist) can help. Such professionals are trained to consider the patient’s entire medical and personal situation and to focus on symptom management and pain relief along with curative treatments.

If the prognosis is particularly worrisome or the cancer does not respond to aggressive measures, consider modifying treatment to preserve your quality of life. For information, click here. (Link to the new article about factors to consider when deciding whether to change to palliative care)

If it looks as if you have a shortened life expectancy of six months or less, consider hospice care. Hospice care can be given at home – and can be free if necessary. To learn about hospice care, click here. 

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