Colon Cancer Treatment
When it comes to the treatment of colon cancer, there are a number of options involving surgery. Here is a quick guide to all the different procedures relating to this disease.
The first option for the treatment of colon cancer is surgery. For this treatment, the surgeon will remove the part of the colon that contains the cancer, as well as part of the normal tissue located either side ” this will ensure that no cancer cells are left behind. The lymph nodes nearby to the area may also be removed and tested for cancer.
When surgery is performed on sufferers of colon cancer surgeons will often be able to reconnect healthy portions or the colon or rectum back together. However, this isnt always possible ” especially when the cancer is located at the outlet of the rectum. This is when a temporary, or permanent, colostomy may be required.
Colostomy involved an opening being created in the wall of the abdomen. A portion of the remaining bowel is then used as a way of eliminating bodily waste into a special bag. This procedure will often only be temporary, as a way of allowing the colon or rectum time to heal after colon surgery has been performed.
In some cases the colostomy will be permanent. If this is the case then the entire colon or rectum is removed. This is only usually the case for rare inherited syndromes or inflammatory bowel diseases. When this surgery has been performed, the surgeon will create a pouch at the end of your small intestine which is then attached directly to the anus. This is what will allow you to keep expelling waste normally. However, those who have undergone this procedure will normally suffer from several watery bowel movements each day.
If you have colon cancer surgery then there are a number of side effects, including short-term pain, tenderness and temporary diarrhea or constipation. When you have a colostomy then you may develop an irritation on the skin around the opening.
If the cancer is small and at an early stage then it may be able to be completely removed with a procedure known as a colonoscopy. In some cases the cancer will be completely eliminated in this way, depending on how far it has spread. Larger polyps can often be removed using laparoscopic surgery which involves several tiny incisions in the abdominal wall. This uses small instruments attached to cameras to display the colon on the video monitor.
Your surgeon may also take samples from your lymph nodes and drain the site of your cancer. Those that have this procedure tend to need less pain medication, and can usually leave the hospital a day earlier on average. This will also help to prevent the chance of recurrence of the cancer.
There are cases where the colon cancer is advanced and only a small part of the colon or rectum can be removed. This type of surgery is not as effective as other types in reducing the cancer. In fact, this is not done to cure the cancer, and usually just to prolong life. This type of treatment is known as palliative surgery.
