Last Updated on March 17, 2026
March 2026
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States — and it is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women under age 50. During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we want to make sure patients and caregivers know that help is available, especially when it comes to affording the medications that treat this disease.
At NeedyMeds, we maintain a free database of patient assistance programs, discount options, and financial resources that can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Here’s a guide to finding help for commonly prescribed colorectal cancer medications.
Chemotherapy: The Foundation of Treatment
Most colorectal cancer treatment plans include chemotherapy, often as part of combination regimens like FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. These drugs have been used for decades and remain central to care at every stage.
Xeloda (capecitabine) — An oral chemotherapy tablet that the body converts to fluorouracil; widely used for colorectal cancer
Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) — Commonly paired with capecitabine or other agents in the FOLFOX regimen
Camptosar (irinotecan) — Used in the FOLFIRI regimen, often for metastatic disease
Targeted Therapies
For patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, targeted therapies are often added to chemotherapy based on tumor biomarker testing. These drugs can be among the most expensive in oncology.
Erbitux (cetuximab) — An EGFR inhibitor used for advanced colorectal cancer, given by IV
Vectibix (panitumumab) — Another EGFR inhibitor for wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer
Immunotherapy
For patients whose tumors have specific genetic features — microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) — immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors have become a powerful treatment option.
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) — Approved as a first-line treatment for eligible colorectal cancer patients with MSI-H or dMMR tumors
Opdivo (nivolumab) — Another checkpoint inhibitor approved for metastatic colorectal cancer with MSI-H or dMMR
Yervoy (ipilimumab) — Used in combination with Opdivo for eligible patients
Later-Line Treatment Options
Stivarga (regorafenib) — An oral targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed on other treatments
Lonsurf (trifluridine/tipiracil) — An oral chemotherapy combination option for metastatic disease after prior therapies
Financial Assistance Programs for Colorectal Cancer Patients
Beyond medication-specific programs, several organizations offer broader financial support for people living with colorectal cancer.
Diagnosis-Based Assistance Programs
NeedyMeds maintains a dedicated list of organizations that provide financial assistance specifically for colorectal cancer patients — including help with copays, treatment costs, and other expenses.
More Ways NeedyMeds Can Help
Our resources go beyond what’s listed here. Use these tools to find additional assistance:
- Search for any medication: Use our drug search on the NeedyMeds homepage to find programs for medications not listed above
- Search by diagnosis: Find condition-specific assistance programs at our program search page
- Compare pharmacy prices: Use our Drug Price Calculator to find the best prices at pharmacies near you with our free discount card
- Print your free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card: Get your card here
A colorectal cancer diagnosis is overwhelming — and the cost of treatment shouldn’t add to that burden. This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, take a few minutes to explore the resources available to you. You might be surprised at how much help is out there.
All NeedyMeds resources are free to use. We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people afford their medications and healthcare costs.
