The colon is also known as the large intestine and it is the end portion of the digestive tract. Sometimes a patch of cells in the colon develop genetic mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably. This results in colon cancer, which can spread to other parts of the body. Colon cancer is easily treatable if it is caught early, and most treatment regimens involve a combination of therapies, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Tumor Excision
Often, if colon cancer has been identified in the early stages, the cancerous tumor can be removed. This type of surgery is considered to be minimally invasive. The surgeon will insert a small tube through the rectum and then use that tube to cut out the cancerous tissue. This type of treatment is commonly used if the cancer is limited to a small growth called a polyp.
Resection
If the cancer has a limited spread throughout the colon, a surgeon may perform a colon resection. With this procedure, the surgeon will take out the diseased part of the colon and sew the healthy parts together to allow the colon to function normally. Usually, the surgeon will also take out the lymph nodes near the colon to see if the cancer has spread there.
Removal and Colostomy
If the colon cancer has spread throughout the colon, the surgeon may opt to remove the entire colon. This option is generally chosen if the spread of the cancer is large enough that it is not feasible to attach the healthy segments together. In this case, the surgeon will take the healthy intestine and attach it to a small pouch that is located outside of the abdomen, where it will collect digestive waste. Sometimes this treatment is temporary and can be reversed once the healthy parts of the colon have healed from the surgery.
Radiation
Radiation treatment is commonly part of the treatment regimen for colon cancer. Radiation treatment uses high-energy X-ray beams to damage the cancer cells. This type of treatment is generally used along with surgery to help eliminate any residual cancer cells. Alternatively, it can be used to shrink tumors to make them easier to remove. The radiation can come from a machine outside of the body or it can be generated internally by injection of radioactive particles.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the administrations of drugs to treat the cancer. These medications either poison the cancer cells and kill them, or they stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy is commonly given intravenously over a long period of time, though it can also be directly injected into the affected tissue.
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