Colon Cancer Treatment
Colon cancer is found in the large intestine ie it affects the colon and the rectum. This is a very serious kind of cancer as the cancer cells originate in the colon tissues. High calorie diet and food with low fiber has been found to be the reason for colon cancer.
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the ways to treat this cancer. The cancer cells can be removed with the help of surgery. Though surgery is used for metastatic colon cancer where the cancer has spread to other parts and also prevents bowel blockage, complications due to bleeding. High doses of drugs are used in intra-arterial chemotherapy where re-occurrence of tumors is found.
Early detection of colon cancer : Undergoing physical examination will help the doctor to detect colon cancer. Tests that are conducted to detect colon cancer are complete blood count (CBC), digital rectal exam (DRE), sigmoidoscopy, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) also referred as PET scan.
Surgery is the oldest form of treating this cancer. Chemotherapy depends upon certain factors like age, stage of cancer, type of cancer etc.
Types of surgery to treat colon cancer
a) Proctectomy: Surgery involves in the removal of the infected part. In low resection cancer (ILR) the upper part of the rectum is removed. ILR is located near the S-shaped sigmoid colon. After the cancer portion is removed from the upper part of the rectum the sigmoid colon is joined back to the healthy and normal tissues of the lower part of the rectum.
In case of abdominoperineal resection (APR) the cancer is detected in the lower part of the rectum very near to the anus and is removed. As sphincter muscles are found close to the anus whose work is to control bowel movement it becomes necessary to remove the affected sphincter muscles. Removal of the affected part is called as colostomy.
b) Colectomy: Three modes of treatments are used to treat the colon cancer: complimentary medication, colostomy and laparoscopic colectomy are the different therapies to treat this cancer. In case of laparoscopic colectomy a small cut or incision is done above the stomach, with the use of laparoscopic instruments the affected part is accessed and cut off without connecting them to the healthy parts of the colon. An artificial opening or a cut is also used to eliminate the waste from the body.
c) Radiofrequency ablation: Micro wave technology is used in order to destroy cancerous cells before they spread to other parts of the body.
B) Chemotherapy-Colon Cancer: This is the most effective mode of treatment. Two methods that are used to treat this cancer are fractionated dose chemotherapy and the chemotherapy significance of drug resistance. Mentioned below are some of the different radiation therapies used to treat colon cancer.
a] Thera-sphere: Better option to radiation and chemotherapy toxins used are less.
b] Tomo-therapy: useful for those who have suffered regression as it helps further damage of healthy cells.
c] HDR Brachytherapy: Radiation is aimed directly to the affected area, preventing damage to the other colon and rectal tissues.
d] Intensity modulated radiation therapy: Use of radioactive materials on the tumor site and also minimizes side effects due to radiation.
B] Innovative therapies: Not all hospitals have the facilities as they are very expensive.
C] Omplementary therapies: Conventional methods to treat colon cancer and help reduce the side effects.