Q. I know I should talk to my doctor about getting screened for colon cancer, but fear of a diagnosis has kept me from making an appointment. What sort of options are available for people with colon cancer? What is the outlook?
A. While the idea of being diagnosed with colon cancer is devastating, the truth is the most deadly form of colon cancer is that which is undiagnosed.
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers. When caught in its beginning stages, it is also one of the most treatable. The earlier the stage of the cancer, the more treatable it is. The 5-year survival rate is 90 percent for people whose colon cancer is treated at an early stage. The goal of screening for colorectal cancer is to find polyps and cancers before symptoms emerge. Even if it's diagnosed after some progression, it's better to be diagnosed sooner rather than later.
The Impact of Colon Screenings
In the past 15 years, the death rate from colorectal cancer has dropped. A key reason behind this decrease is that more people are getting the screenings they need, which means more polyps are detected and removed before they even turn into cancer.
In addition, more screenings have led to an increase in early cancer detection and treatment. Even treatment options have improved. The statistics are telling us that early detection and treatment is the key to winning the fight against colon cancer.
Treatment
Most colorectal cancers develop in growths called polyps which are attached to the interior of the colon or rectum. If these polyps are spotted during a colonoscopy, they can be removed during the actual procedure when the cancer is in its earliest stages or before it even develops. If the cancer has progressed, further surgery may be needed to remove the cancer. In some cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy are possible treatments for colon cancer, depending on cancer's progression, but in the majority of cases, removal of the cancer is the first line of defense.
If surgery is needed, the process includes removing the cancerous area of the colon along with a small portion of healthy surrounding colon to ensure that only healthy tissue remains. Traditionally, this procedure was achieved through open surgery, which required a large incision, up to 16 inches long, made from the navel to the pubic bone. In more recent years, minimally invasive techniques have offered a new option for this type of surgery.
Minimally Invasive Colon Surgery
A minimally invasive procedure, also called laparoscopic procedure, is preformed using several small incisions to achieve what is traditionally done through one larger incision. With minimally invasive colon surgery, the surgeon makes a series of little incisions, ranging from one-fourth of an inch to four inches, in the patient's abdomen.
A tiny video camera called a "scope" is inserted through one of the incisions and transmits a live, magnified view of the patient's organs onto a television monitor. The surgeon works through the other incisions with special, small instruments, while using the monitor to guide the removal of cancerous colon tissue and other tissue as needed. Afterward, the two healthy ends of the colon are brought back together.
The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive colon surgery has proven to be as effective as open surgery, but it offers several additional benefits:
• less pain
• faster recovery
• shorter hospital stay
• less scarring
Minimally invasive procedures aren't the answer for everyone, and they share many of the same risks as traditional surgery.
Remember, your best defense against colon cancer is an early diagnosis. If you have a family history of cancer or you're over the age of 50, talk to your physician about getting a colonoscopy.
-As a general surgeon, Andrew Rikkers, DO, is skilled in providing a diverse range of surgical options with advanced training in offering minimally invasive procedures. He has a special interest in treating colon cancer, diverticular disease, breast disease and hernias, and a variety of other conditions.
A. While the idea of being diagnosed with colon cancer is devastating, the truth is the most deadly form of colon cancer is that which is undiagnosed.
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers. When caught in its beginning stages, it is also one of the most treatable. The earlier the stage of the cancer, the more treatable it is. The 5-year survival rate is 90 percent for people whose colon cancer is treated at an early stage. The goal of screening for colorectal cancer is to find polyps and cancers before symptoms emerge. Even if it's diagnosed after some progression, it's better to be diagnosed sooner rather than later.
The Impact of Colon Screenings
In the past 15 years, the death rate from colorectal cancer has dropped. A key reason behind this decrease is that more people are getting the screenings they need, which means more polyps are detected and removed before they even turn into cancer.
In addition, more screenings have led to an increase in early cancer detection and treatment. Even treatment options have improved. The statistics are telling us that early detection and treatment is the key to winning the fight against colon cancer.
Treatment
Most colorectal cancers develop in growths called polyps which are attached to the interior of the colon or rectum. If these polyps are spotted during a colonoscopy, they can be removed during the actual procedure when the cancer is in its earliest stages or before it even develops. If the cancer has progressed, further surgery may be needed to remove the cancer. In some cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy are possible treatments for colon cancer, depending on cancer's progression, but in the majority of cases, removal of the cancer is the first line of defense.
If surgery is needed, the process includes removing the cancerous area of the colon along with a small portion of healthy surrounding colon to ensure that only healthy tissue remains. Traditionally, this procedure was achieved through open surgery, which required a large incision, up to 16 inches long, made from the navel to the pubic bone. In more recent years, minimally invasive techniques have offered a new option for this type of surgery.
Minimally Invasive Colon Surgery
A minimally invasive procedure, also called laparoscopic procedure, is preformed using several small incisions to achieve what is traditionally done through one larger incision. With minimally invasive colon surgery, the surgeon makes a series of little incisions, ranging from one-fourth of an inch to four inches, in the patient's abdomen.
A tiny video camera called a "scope" is inserted through one of the incisions and transmits a live, magnified view of the patient's organs onto a television monitor. The surgeon works through the other incisions with special, small instruments, while using the monitor to guide the removal of cancerous colon tissue and other tissue as needed. Afterward, the two healthy ends of the colon are brought back together.
The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive colon surgery has proven to be as effective as open surgery, but it offers several additional benefits:
• less pain
• faster recovery
• shorter hospital stay
• less scarring
Minimally invasive procedures aren't the answer for everyone, and they share many of the same risks as traditional surgery.
Remember, your best defense against colon cancer is an early diagnosis. If you have a family history of cancer or you're over the age of 50, talk to your physician about getting a colonoscopy.
-As a general surgeon, Andrew Rikkers, DO, is skilled in providing a diverse range of surgical options with advanced training in offering minimally invasive procedures. He has a special interest in treating colon cancer, diverticular disease, breast disease and hernias, and a variety of other conditions.
