Know All Available Options For Colon Cancer Treatment

Colon Cancer is among the most common and dreaded cancers across the globe. It can occur in both men and women and is most often found among people over the age of 50, although it does occur in younger people, and rarely in teens.

Doctors talk about diverse colon cancer treatment options. Surgery to remove the tumor is usually the primary treatment for colon and rectal cancer. Chemotherapy (treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells) is often used when there is a risk that the colon or rectal cancer would come back. Radiotherapy (treatment with x-rays that kill cancer cells) may be used either before or after surgery for the treatment of the rectal cancer. Sometimes both radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used after surgery.

Colon Cancer Surgery:

Through surgery, the location of the cancer in the particular section of the colon is removed. After removal, the remaining part of the colon is again rejoined to normalize its functions. One of the most common surgery procedure is named as open colostomy.

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that involves connecting a part of the colon onto the anterior abdominal wall, leaving the patient with an opening on the abdomen called a stoma. This opening is formed from the end of the large intestine drawn out through the incision and sutured to the skin. After a colostomy, feces leave the patient's body through the stoma, and is collected in a pouch attached to the patient's abdomen which is changed whenever deemed necessary. The patient usually remains in the hospital for about five to eight days. However, patients might require six more weeks after getting discharged from the hospital for complete recovery.

Removal of cancerous part of the colon is carried out through following surgical procedures -

* Local Excision In this surgery, only the cancerous portion of the colon including some surrounding normal tissues are removed.

* Anterior Resection An anterior resection surgery entails the removal of cancer, normal tissues surrounding the cancer, and some normal uninvolved normal colon tissues which lies above and below the cancerous part including the lymph nodes. After surgery, the colon is reattached again.

* Low Anterior Resection In this process, surgeons take out cancerous part of the lower sigmoid colon, along with the normal tissues around the cancer and lymph nodes. After surgery, colon is reattached to the lower rectum area.

* Abdominal Perennial Resection If the surgeon locates cancer very near to the opening area of anal, then the entire rectum and anal part needs to be removed through the process of colostomy. This is done by making an opening in the abdomen wall and the body wastes of the patient are removed into a bag.

* Extended Resection If the cancer is first developed at its original location and thereafter it starts to penetrate into other organs like pelvic or abdominal areas or vagina or bladder, an extended resection surgery process is applied. This extensive surgical process is continued along with an external and intra-operative radiation and chemotherapy process. Usually, the chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given prior to the extended resection process. * Colostomy Sparing Procedures This treatment involves the removal of the entire colon or the rectum needs. Surgeons generally perform a Colostomy to create an opening (a stoma) in the skin to allow the waste to exit the body by its collection in an external bag.

In addition to the colon cancer treatments described above, other options which offer complementary and alternative therapies such as naturopathic medicine, nutritional therapy, mind-body medicine, image enhancement and spiritual counseling are also available

.

Colon Cancer Surgery >> About Us >> Contact Us >> Usage And Privacy Policy