Verified By Apollo Oncologist April 29, 2023
2854Dr Muralidhar Nambada
MS (General), DNB (Surgical Gastroenterology), FMAS
Consultant Gastrointestinal Surgeon
Colon is the last part of human digestive system which prepares the stool before presenting it to the Rectum (ending of the alimentary tract) to expel it out. Cancer that occurs in this part of the intestine is called colon cancer.
It usually develops from polyps that arise from cells that form the inner lining layer of the colon, which takes a long period of time before they become cancerous.
These cancers many not produce symptoms till they attain a significant size. The common symptoms of this cancer are
Anyone can develop a cancer in their colon. However, there are certain individuals who are at high risk of developing colon cancer like
Once there is a suspicion of colon cancer, we perform a COLONOSCOPY procedure (it is an endoscopy through the anus to examine the entire large intestine and the last part of small intestine) to see in which part of the colon the tumuor is and also to see if there are multiple tumours.
Once a tumuor is seen, a small Biopsy (removing a small piece of tissue) is done to confirm that it is cancer. After a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed by a pathologist, we usually try to see in which stage the disease is.
Staging is done by means of an Ultrasound Scan of the Abdomen, Chest X Ray and CT Scan of Abdomen and Chest.
Based on the stage, colon cancer has two treatment options, they are Surgery and/or Chemotherapy. Surgery for colon cancer depends on where the cancer is located. The procedure is known as Radical Colectomy and based on the site, they are named as Radical Right Hemicolectomy ( for cancers in the first part of the colon on the right side), Radical Left Hemicolectomy (for left colon cancers). Radical Sigmoid Colectomy (for the sigmoid colon) and we are now performing these procedures laparoscopically (LAPAROSCOPIC COLON & RECTAL SURGERY).
These patients with colon cancer may require CHEMOTHERAPY based stage which we come to know after the final pathology report following surgery.
With the introduction of newer chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen for colon and rectal cancer, the 5 year survival rates of patient have increased tremendously even for a patient with Stage IV disease
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