Surgery for Colon Cancer
Surgery is the major way with which colon or colectoral cancer is treated. One type of surgery for colon cancer is a colectomy. This is also called hemicolectomy or segmental resection. In preparation for this procedure, the patient will be asked to rid his colon of waste. He will be given laxatives and enemas. During the surgery, the patient will be put to sleep. Then an incision will be made on the abdomen and the part of the colon where there is cancer will be removed. Parts of the normal colon on either side of the cancerous part will also be removed. Lymph nodes near the cancerous area that has been removed will also be removed. After this, the remaining parts of the colon will be reattached.
After the surgery, the patient will feel pain. This will last for several days. He will be given medicines to cope with the pain. His colon will still be too weak to process food so he will get nourishment through an IV. In time, his digestive functions will return to normal. Of course, it is wise to start with a liquid diet if the colon is still healing.
After surgery, it is highly likely that the patient will still be given medicines or radiation therapy. This is because the doctor will want to keep the colon cancer as contained as it can be.
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