Colon Cancer

• One in 15 people develop colon cancer in the United States
• Colon cancer can be a life threatening condition but if it is found early it is curable

What is the Colon?

• The colon makes up the last 5 feet of the intestine
• It is the part were the stool is stored at before evacuation
• The colon has 5 parts: cecum, ascending colon, transverse, descending colon, sigmoid
• The rectum & anus are the exit parts of the intestinal system

Blood in the stool is one of the most common symptoms of colon cancer

• Blood in the stool is not specific for colon cancer, other less serious conditions can cause rectal bleeding
• If colon cancer becomes very big it can cause colon obstruction
• In addition to colonoscopy, you may need to have other tests like CT Scan if colon cancer is found

Cancer of the colon usually starts with colon polyps

• If colon polyps are not taken out early they might progress to cancer
• Colon cancer can run in families
• Some conditions like colitis can predispose to colon cancer
• People who are on high-fiber, low-fat diets have less chance of getting colon cancer
• Studies suggest that taking aspirin regularly reduces the possibility of colon cancer

Early detection is the key to treating colon cancer, before it causes other conditions.

• Colon exam is encouraged for screening purposes
• Ask you Doctor about your recommended periodic colon screening!

Treatment options

• Surgery is the primary option to treat colon cancer
• This will entail removing part or all the colon
• Your Doctor may recommend performing a colostomy as part of the procedure
• If the cancer has spread to other nearby organs or structures, those may need to be removed also

Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery is the gold standard of treatment for colon cancer

• Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery will ensure rapid recovery, short hospital stay, minimal loss of blood and less incidence of wound infection and post operative abdominal hernias
• Ask your surgeon about total laparoscopic minimally invasive colon resection

After surgery you may need to consult with the oncologist

• Additional treatment will depend on the stage of your cancer
• After surgery chemotherapy can be given orally or intravenous depending on the recommended treatment protocol by your oncologist

If the cancer is found early and treated surgically you will have the best chance of survival

• Regular check-ups are very important to help detect cancer early and be treated effectively
• The colon is prepared before surgery by taking colon cleaning solutions
• Please go to our patient education web page to read more about after surgery instructions

Other common causes of rectal bleeding are: Diverticulitis and Bleeding Hemorrhoids

• Can cause life threatening complications
• The Doctor may recommend taking out the affected part of the colon
• One of the common causes of diverticulitis is constipation
• A diverticuli is a bulge in the colon caused by the repeated forcing on hard stool through the colon

Most Diverticuli are in the sigmoid colon

• The Diverticuli might get inflamed, can cause bleeding and can perforate into the abdominal cavity
• Surgical treatment and modification of eating habits by increasing the fiber contents are the main lines of treatment for Diverticular disease of colon

Ask your Doctor about Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic resection of the colon

• This surgery is very safe in the hands of the experienced Surgeon
• Usually you leave the hospital within 1-3 days after Surgery