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Receiving the best colon cancer treatment is vital, considering that colon cancer is a very serious matter and, in many cases, deadly. The prognosis depends on the stage and severity of the cancer, the patient’s age, general health and the blood levels prior to the treatment. The type of treatment also depends on the stage of cancer and whether or not it’s recurring. There are three primary types of treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Colon Cancer Surgery
During the early stages, a physician may be able to remove the cancer by performing a colonoscopy. If the polyp isn’t attached to the base of the bowel wall, there is a good chance it can be completely removed. Laparoscopic surgery can be used to remove larger polyps. The physician performs the operation by making small incisions in the abdominal wall. Small instruments with attached cameras are inserted through the incisions in order for the surgeon to view the surgery on a video monitor. Invasive colon cancer treatment typically involves a colectomy.
During a colectomy, the surgeon will remove the cancerous part of the colon, along with some of the surrounding normal tissue and lymph nodes. After the removal, the surgeon will try to reconnect the remaining, healthy portions of the colon or rectum. The advanced stages of cancer often involves palliative surgery, which is performed to relieve the pain and symptoms rather than eliminate the cancer altogether. If the patient’s health is good, despite the cancer, a doctor may be able to remove the lesion from the liver, providing it has not spread elsewhere. This may increase the patient’s chances of survival.
Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer
Chemotherapy is usually recommended for stages 3 and 4, and sometimes for stage 2 colon cancer. It’s used in combination with biologic therapies that target cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used after surgery to help fight cancer or to relieve the symptoms. Doctors recommend chemotherapy – sometimes with radiation therapy - for patients with rectal cancer. This type of colon cancer treatment is systemic, meaning that the drugs travel through the bloodstream. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered through an injection by means of a catheter or a pill.
Colon Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy involves high-energy sources, such as x-rays or particles to destroy the cancer. Sometimes it’s used with chemotherapy to increase the overall effectiveness of the colon cancer treatment. The radiation treatment is used when the tumor is found to have attached to the lining of the stomach or another organ, such as the liver. After surgery, the rays are used to kill any remaining cancer cells. For patients with rectal cancer, radiation therapy is sometimes given before the surgery to decrease the size of the tumor. This will make the surgery easier to perform, as it lowers the risk of complications.
These three treatments are the most commonly used for colon cancer. Sometimes more than one treatment might be used in advanced stages. Oncologists will recommend additional treatments to lower the chances of the colon cancer recurring.
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