Important Facts about Colon Rectal Cancer Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the colon. Rectal cancer surgery is also performed regularly. Beforehand, you will probably be given a laxative and/or an enema to prepare your colon and bowel for the procedure. General aesthetic will be administered just before your surgery. With colon rectal cancer surgery, such as a segmental resection, the surgeon will remove the cancerous cells and a healthy part of your colon from either side of the cancer site as well as some lymph nodes. After this, the colon will be rejoined.
In some cases, it may be possible to remove the cancer cells, part of the colon and the lymph nodes via a laparoscope. This is done by the use of a tiny camera being inserted in an opening in the skin, images are then viewed on a monitor and by using other special instrument, the surgery can be performed. The use of this method depends on many factors, including the size of the cancer, the exact location and the patients overall health.
With rectal surgery, there are a few surgery options as well, such as a polypectomy and local excision, which are used to remove polyps. A local transanal resection is performed by cutting through the layers of the rectum and removing cancerous cells and surrounding healthy tissue. All three of these surgery methods are performed through the anus, thus avoiding any surgical cutting. They can most often be performed on patients that have small, early stage cancers. Larger, more advanced cancers are removed by low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection. These both involved cutting into the abdomen and the surgeon will remove the cancer, lymph nodes and an area of normal tissue surrounding the cancer site.
After surgery, you will notice pain for the first few days and will be on medication for pain relief. You will not be able to eat and will get your nourishment as fluids through IV. Solid foods will be reintroduced slowly, starting about 3-4 days post op. Also after surgery, it is important to watch for any signs of bleeding or blood clots in the legs and rarely, infection. Complications from these types of surgeries are not common and most can be dealt with satisfactorily should they occur.
Regular checkups after surgery for cancer of the colon, rectal cancer surgery and other more minor procedures in this area are vital and there are many colon cancer help groups who can offer advice and support to patients of these types of cancer.
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