What Treatments Exist For Colon Cancer?
There are several treatment options available for colon cancer all of which are capable of curing the disease. The four main options are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Treatment usually depends on the stage of cancer the person is in and the severity of effects of the cancerous growth. Sometimes, combinations of these treatments are also used. Colon surgery is one of the main treatment options for colon cancer. The operations are known as segmental resection of partial colectomy. Before the surgery you are usually give laxatives or enemas in order to cleanse the intestines. The surgery is done under general anesthesia. During the surgery, all cancerous tissues and cells are removed including nearby lymph nodes and parts that might get affected. The part of the colon that has been affected is removed from the body. The remaining parts are fused together to form a functioning coon. After surgery pain medicines and sedatives are given to reduce discomfort. Treatment with surgeries are usually very successful and generally do not have any major side effects. Sometimes the remaining end of the colon is attached to abdominal wall and the bowel needs to be collected in a bag. This is usually temporary. Permanent Colectomy is rarely done. Recovery time is anywhere between one and two months. Surgeries are usually helpful for removing early colon cancer. Nowadays with improvement in technology, colon cancer surgery can be performed by laparoscopy. In the surgery, a tiny incision is made in the abdomen. A thin flexible tube with a high-resolution camera attached to its end is inserted into the abdomen. The images are viewed in real time on a screen. The surgeon performs the operation entirely by looking at the screen. Since the incision is very tiny, it heals quickly and does not cause much pain. The risk of infection is also less. In later stages of cancer, sometimes radiation therapy is used to detect and treat cancer. It used high energy x-rays to kill the cancer cells. The radiation is given by an external beam radiation. This is given by a linear accelerator at least 5 days a week for many weeks. Radiation therapy is given either before or after surgery and is usually done in combination with chemotherapy. It reduces the risk of cancer coming back in the same place. Chemotherapy is one of the treatment options available for colon cancer. It is generally given after surgery in order to kill any remaining cancerous cells and reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Cancer-fighting drugs are injected into the vein or taken orally. Side effects of chemotherapy can be severe but it is one of the best options available. Chemotherapy has been known to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Immunotherapy uses the natural products produced by the immune system in order to fight the cancer. The substances kill the cancer cells, or slow down their growth and help the immune system fight the cancer more effectively. It is best to consult your doctor on which treatment option might be best for you. Treatment options depend from person to person. Sources used: http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_gls/_english/_colon/4_treatment.asp |
