Cancer · Austria
Colorectal cancer
How is it diagnosed today? The main test is a colonoscopy: a thin, bendy tube with a camera looks inside your bowel. NHS
What do you need help with?
- Join a trialStudies open to new patients in your country, and abroad if you want.20 open trials in Austria
- Offer tissue or dataGive a sample or your health data to research.
- Get supportPatient groups, money and work, help for family.
- Access and costGetting a treatment that is not on offer here, and who pays.
- Questions for your doctorReady lists to print or copy before your next visit.
- Don't pay for thisOffers with no proof in people, and what to check first.
Where treatment stands
Four steps, from proven to unproven.
Approved in Austria
Usual treatment: Surgery, often with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. NCI
14 medicines are approved for this disease in Austria:
Show all 14
- Aflibercept (Zaltrap) – approved in 2013
- Bevacizumab (Mvasi, Aybintio, Abevmy) – approved in 2005
- Capecitabine (Capecitabine Teva, Ecansya, Capecitabine Accord) – approved in 2001
- Cetuximab (Erbitux) – approved in 2004
- Encorafenib (Braftovi) – approved in 2018
- Fruquintinib (Fruzaqla) – approved in 2024
- Ipilimumab (Yervoy) – approved in 2011
- Nivolumab (Opdivo) – approved in 2015
- Panitumumab (Vectibix) – approved in 2007
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Keytruda Qlex) – approved in 2015
- Ramucirumab (Cyramza) – approved in 2014
- Regorafenib (Stivarga) – approved in 2013
- Tegafur and gimeracil and oteracil (Teysuno) – approved in 2011
- Trifluridine and tipiracil (Lonsurf) – approved in 2016
An EU approval is valid in Austria. We did not check the national approvals in Austria, so some medicines under “Approved elsewhere” may be approved here too. We did not check whether they are sold or paid for there. Checked in the regulators' own texts on 11 Nov 2026.
Approved elsewhere (10)
- Atezolizumab and hyaluronidase (Tecentriq Hybreza) – approved for it in the US
- Dostarlimab (Jemperli) – approved for it in the US
- Fluorouracil (Favlyxa, Fluorouracile Pfizer, Fluorouracile Accord) – approved for it in the US and France
- Irinotecan (Camptosar, Irinotecan Kabi, Irinotecan Hikma) – approved for it in the US and France
- Leucovorin (Vykoura) – approved for it in the US
- Levoleucovorin (Khapzory) – approved for it in the US
- Oxaliplatin (Oxaliplatin, Oxaliplatine Viatris, Oxaliplatine Kabi) – approved for it in the US and France
- Raltitrexed (Tomudex) – approved for it in France
- Sotorasib (Lumakras) – approved for it in the US
- Tucatinib (Tukysa) – approved for it in the US
Being tested in people
20 open trials in Austria, 1530 worldwide. See the trials
- "FOLFIRI" cures (Phase 3)
- 3D conformal EBRT (Phase 3)
- 5 FU bolus (Phase 3)
- 5 FU continuous (Phase 3)
Only in the lab or in animals
Not counted yet for this disease.
No proof it works
Animal worm medicines (ivermectin, fenbendazole) for cancer: not approved, and not enough research in people to know if they help. American Cancer Society: What to Know About Ivermectin (21 May 2026) · American Cancer Society: What to Know About Fenbendazole (21 Oct 2025)
Join a trial
Studies that are taking new patients in Austria. The trial team decides who can join. Change the country at the top.
Phase 1: first tests in people · Phase 2: does it help? · Phase 3: compared with the usual treatment
0 open trials in Austria with these filters
We found no open trial in Austria with these filters. You can also show trials abroad.
How to get into an early trial
- A lab does not treat patients, so you cannot phone the lab to get a new treatment.
- Ask your doctor to look at phase 1 trials with you. These are the first tests in people.
- If one fits, your doctor sends a referral to the trial centre.
- The trial team checks whether you can join and decides.
Trial data: ClinicalTrials.gov, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine; it does not endorse this site. EU trials: EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS), European Medicines Agency. We show the registry records; the trial team has the last word on who can join.
Latest research
The five newest articles. The label comes from the PubMed index: whether it was tested in people, in animals or only in the lab.
- Sequential colorectal cancer-based therapy including anti-angiogenics and 3rd-line trifluridine/tipiracil-bevacizumab for metastatic urachal adenocarcinoma: a case report.Front Oncol · 2026-10-29
- Gut Microbiota and Cancer Therapy Resistance: Mechanistic Insights with Emphasis on Colorectal Cancer.Curr Med Chem · 2026-11-11
- Preoperative Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation and Serum 3 Hsa_circ_0076251 are Associated with the 2- Year Recurrence of Stage II/III 4 Colorectal Cancer: A Single- Center.Cancer Manag Res · 2026-11-07
- [Expression of Concern] Inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway sensitises human colon cancer cells to 5‑fluorouracil treatment.Int J Oncol · 2026-11-13
- ReviewPostoperative Management After Curative-Intent Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Critical Review of Recent Randomized Evidence.J Gastrointest Cancer · 2026-11-13
Is it true?
Saw something on social media? Fact-check it now.
Get screened
For family members and people at higher risk: free checks can find some cancers early, before there are symptoms.
Free bowel screening in Vienna
For people aged 45–75 who live in Vienna – letters are being sent out until about spring 2027.
Order a home stool test (FIT) or choose a colonoscopy; call 1450 if you need help.
City of Vienna: bowel screeningOutside Vienna: ask your GP about a stool test or colonoscopy at your health check (Vorsorgeuntersuchung).
If several people in your family had cancer, ask your GP whether genetic counselling makes sense for you.
Offer tissue or data
You can help research move faster.
Give tissue or blood to research
Before an operation or a blood test, ask if left-over tissue or blood can go to a biobank.
- Does this hospital have a biobank?
- What will the sample be used for, and for how long?
- Can I change my mind later?
Share your health data
Ask your doctor whether there is a patient registry for your illness. You choose what you share.
Take part as a healthy volunteer
Some studies need people without the illness, often family members.
Volunteer studiesGet support
Patient groups in Austria
- Österreichische Krebshilfe
Free, anonymous counselling at regional centres in every federal state, psycho-oncology and emergency financial aid.
Phone: 01 7966450
- ILCO Oesterreich (Dachverband)
Umbrella of volunteer regional stoma self-help groups: peer support, hospital visits, information events, magazine twice a year.
Phone: 01 / 332 38 63
- Selbsthilfe Darmkrebs - Verein fuer Darmkrebsinformation
Colorectal cancer self-help association (since 1994): information, events and personal contact for patients and relatives.
Phone: 0676 / 934 07 46
Help for every illness in Austria (4)
- 1450 – Rund-um-die-Uhr-Gesundheitsberatung
Austria's nationwide 24/7 telephone health advice line: trained staff assess symptoms and guide callers to the appropriate care.
- Telefonseelsorge Österreich – Notruf 142
Free, confidential 24/7 emotional support and crisis line for anyone in Austria, reachable on 142.
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich (gesundheit.gv.at)
Austria's official public health portal, offering quality-assured information on diseases, prevention, health services and patient rights.
- ARGE Selbsthilfe Österreich
ARGE Selbsthilfe Österreich represents the interests of self-help groups and patient organisations in Austrian social and health policy.
Available abroad: international groups (6)
- Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE)
European umbrella of patient groups for digestive cancers, with a list of its members.
- European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC)
Umbrella of European cancer patient groups, with a patient toolbox and a legal network for cancer patients.
- GI Cancers Alliance
Global alliance of 120+ GI cancer advocacy groups; education on biomarker testing and overviews of gastric, oesophageal, liver and bile duct cancers.
- Global Colon Cancer Association
Global network of colorectal cancer patient organisations: patient education, Know Your Biomarker, ostomy programme, advocacy mentorship
- European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Umbrella of European patient organisations and national patient coalitions.
- International Alliance of Patients' Organizations
Global alliance of patient organisations of all diseases, promoting patient-centred healthcare.
Money and work
If the illness stops you working, ask the hospital social worker which benefits you can claim.
- Which sick-pay or disability benefits can I apply for?
- Is there help for the carer in the family?
- Are travel costs to treatment paid back?
After a loss
If someone you love has died, you do not have to go through it alone. Many families ask themselves whether they missed something; the care team can talk this through with you.
We have no grief support group in Austria in our list yet. The hospital's social worker or palliative team can tell you where to find one.
Hospitals and hospices have chaplains and counsellors, for any faith or none.
Some families decide to give tissue to research after death, so that the illness can be studied. If you want to, ask the treating hospital early whether it has such a programme.
Access and cost
- If no trial fits, your doctor can ask the company and the medicines authority whether early access (compassionate use) is possible.
- In Austria the medicines agency BASG lists the early-access programmes that are running. BASG (Austria): list of compassionate use programmes, no. 054
- In the EU you may get planned care in another EU country. Ask your health insurer before you go. Your Europe: planned medical treatment abroad
- Some medicines for this disease are approved abroad but maybe not here: see “Approved elsewhere” under “Approved in Austria” above.
Don't pay for this
No one will cure you through a Facebook message or ask you to invest money.
- Animal worm medicines bought online (ivermectin, fenbendazole)
They are made for animals and not tested for cancer in people. High doses can cause seizures or coma, fenbendazole has caused liver damage, they may weaken your cancer treatment, and they can keep you out of a trial.
American Cancer Society: What to Know About Ivermectin (21 May 2026) · American Cancer Society: What to Know About Fenbendazole (21 Oct 2025) · ASCO: Oncologists urged to discuss ivermectin and fenbendazole (17 Jun 2026)
- “Treatment plans” offered in comments
Ask which published study in people is behind it. Usually there is none.
- Anyone who answers your post with a private treatment
Real trials are listed in a public registry. Check the number on ClinicalTrials.gov or the EU trial register.
- Strangers offering investments or “funds” for treatment
Do not reply and do not send money. Report the comment or message.
Before you pay for anything, ask three things
- Can I have a written price, with everything that is included?
- Which published study in people shows it helps my disease?
- What does my doctor say about it?
Questions for your doctor
Ready lists for a new diagnosis, during treatment, before a trial and before you pay. Open the question lists
Not medical advice. We show what is open and what is known; your care team decides what fits you.