Colorectal Cancer Surgery

When cells and tissue of your rectum and colon undergo neoplasm and start metastasizing, you could be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Approximately 140,000 men and women are diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually which makes the malignancy one of the most prevalent forms of cancer. Surgical intervention is the best and most widely used treatment technique for dealing with colorectal cancer, usually preceded or succeeded by radiation and chemotherapy.

Though the colon or rectum could metastasize separately, both cancers are referred collectively owing to their exhibiting common traits. Cancer of the colon is more prevalent than rectal cancer.

Surgical options and methods

There are numerous types of colorectal cancer surgery based on the specific area of the large intestine that becomes cancerous. Some of the most common forms are:

• Ileocolectomy/right colectomy – In lleocolectomy, the ileum, lying on the colon’s right end is removed together with the colon’s right section. During a right colectomy procedure, only the colon’s right part is eliminated.
• Partial colectomy – In partial colectomy, only a specific section of the colon is expunged, as the expression indicates. After the malignant part is removed, the residual components are reconnected using a procedure known as anastomosis in medical parlance. Your bowel movement is usually not affected when you undergo partial colectomy.
• Total abdominal colectomy – Excision of the large intestine in entirety is referred to as total abdominal colectomy.
• The proctosigmoidectomy – proctosigmoidectomy procedure entails excising the infected part of the sigmoid colon and the rectum.

• Total proctocolectomy – The colon and the rectum is completely removed in a total proctocolectomy operation. In case, the anus is left intact, and its functioning is smooth, then the surgeon devises an ileal pouch shaped like the letter ‘J’ that stores feces temporarily until you defecate it.
• Abdominoperineal resection – Abdominoperineal resection involves the removal of the sigmoid colon, rectum, and anus followed by colostomy procedure for facilitating stool discharge.

Benefits

Surgeries are carried out either through the open mode or the minimally invasive, ‘keyhole’ technique where a laparoscope is used. Laparoscopic surgery is the choice option for the majority of patients as the process is less painful compared to open surgery, requires a shorter hospitalization, and a quicker recovery.

Side-effects

Like any other type of surgery, colorectal cancer surgery has the following common complications:

• Fatigue
• Pain
• Appetite loss
• Inflammation around the incision or incisions
• Leakage of pus and fluids
• Bleeding and laceration at the surgery site
• Numbness
• Organ dysfunction
• Infection

Precautions

After the operation, the patient experiences extreme weakness and is not able to move about without assistance. Pain medication is administered intravenously or through injections. Antibiotics are also given to combat the risks of infections. Smooth stool passage indicates that the colon is recovering. Patients should start ambulating as early as possible post-surgery to trigger bowel movement and at the same avoid strenuous activities for about a month or two to expedite healing.

Prognosis

Survival rate five years after the surgery is less than 65% in Europe and North America. Chances or rate of survival is determined by the stage of cancer. Patients have a better chance of surviving longer if the malignancy is detected early at least five times more compared to delayed diagnosis.

Concluding Remarks

Colorectal cancer is more prevalent in developed countries in comparison to developing or underdeveloped nations. Surgery is the best option for treating and reversing the adverse effects of colon and rectal cancers.

Make an appointment with one of the experts to understand if this treatment can be the best as per your case.

References

1. http://www.healthcommunities.com/gastrointestinal-surgery/postoperative-care-colon-colon-resection.shtml
2. https://www.cancercenter.com/colorectal-cancer/questions/
3. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/surgery/side-effects-surgery
4. https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/surgery-treat-colorectal-cancer#1
5. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/articles-and-answers/ask-the-expert/colon-cancer-treatment-what-to-know-about-surgery’
6. https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/colorectal-cancer-treatment-options#1
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorectal_cancer