Radiation therapy of cancer of the colon and rectum

Summary Figure 9 is a summary of our present opinions as to the scope of radiation therapy in cancer of the colon and rectum. For curative therapy, radiation has little if any importance today. On the other hand, for palliative therapy radiation is of much greater value than is generally appreciated. Finally, radiation therapy as an adjunct to surgery holds promise for further improvement of the palliative results as well as of the percentage of cures in cancer of the colon and rectum.