Colon Cancer Surgery

Guide for Colon Cancer Surgery Patients

Earlier detection and remedy of potential polyps and early cancers can considerably improve probabilities of survival. However, it depends upon the advancement of the cancer in an individual before colon cancer surgery is performed the first time.

Some Facts

There is a high possibility that Colon cancer surgery patients could develop colon cancer again. Therefore patients are normally advised to undergo a repeat colonoscopy once every 6 months to a year for the first year or to.

Then, each year patients are recommended a colonoscopy once every 3 years from this point on. In the severest of cases a colonoscopy may be required once every three months.

Additional facts for colon cancer surgery patients include as follows:

• Individuals suffering from ulcerative colitis stand a higher chance of developing colorectal melanoma. Individuals suffering chronic ulcerative colitis involving the total colon need to undergo a colonoscopy about once every year or two.

• If precancerous cell modifications are detected, colonoscopy is repeated in 3 months. Physicians may consider surgically removing the colon in the event precancerous cells are found.

• The risk of developing colon cancer is proportional to the duration of disease and to the extent of colon involved by colitis. Again, this is why regular colon cancer screening is strongly urged.

• Other organs that are infected by the colon cancer can have lesions taken out from them. This along with using a doctor-recommended treatment and care regimen can increase a person’s chance of survival and return of good health.

Types of Surgery and Treatment

Colon cancer surgery may be invasive or non-invasive, meaning on of a variety of traditional cutting or laser removal methods may be used. Laparoscopic surgical treatment, Radiation, chemotherapy, or targeted drug treatment may be used.

The decision to administer colon cancer surgery is evaluated on a case by case basis. Sometimes it is the best option while other times it may not be. In some cases, perhaps hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation would be used.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Of course, colon cancer surgery is very invasive. It also has its risks of complications such as scarring, diarrhea, post-operative pain, or fatigue.

However, other types of treatment also have their disadvantages. For instance, chemo or other drugs therapies used to get rid of the cancer cells often have dreadful side effects (i.e. headaches, vomiting, dizziness).

Furthermore, radiation remedy uses a type of UV energy similar to that of X-rays to kill and to shrink cancer cells. However, it also has risk of unwanted side effects (vomiting, extreme weight loss, and fatigue.)