How Is Bowel Cancer Treated? BLOOD in STOOL Warning Signs - Dr. Shreedevi K N | Doctors' Circle

Описание: Registration No: 95132 Karnataka Medical Council, 2012
Dr. Shreedevi K N | Phone 📞 +91 8867546900 (Online & in-person appointment can be booked online or by call) Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist & Colorectal Surgeon | Chirag Global Hospital, J P Nagar 2 Phase, Bangalore, India
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A lot of times, I am asked if there's any difference between colon cancer and rectal cancer, and the way they are treated. Essentially, there is no major difference because when it comes to cancer, the primary aim is to eliminate the disease entirely from the body. The approach to treatment for colon cancer and rectal cancer depends on the biopsy results, but to give you a broad idea: colon cancer generally responds very well to surgery and chemotherapy, whereas rectal cancer responds best to a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. So, if I were to highlight one key difference, it would be that rectal cancer is more responsive to radiotherapy compared to colon cancer. That may be an additional form of treatment needed if you are diagnosed with rectal cancer.
If you have undergone colorectal cancer surgery, the treatment outcome depends on the stage of the cancer and the type of surgical procedure performed. There are two main types of surgeries—complete curative surgery and palliative or limited surgery. If you have had a major cancer resection, the specifics vary based on whether the colon or rectum was operated on, and whether any additional procedures like a colostomy or ileostomy were carried out. In a standard scenario, if you had an open surgery (where the abdomen is opened up), the recovery period may be between one to two weeks. If the surgery was laparoscopic or robotic, recovery may only take one to seven days. Minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy or robotic surgery lead to quicker recovery and better wound healing. Certainly, chemotherapy and radiotherapy come with side effects, irrespective of the type of cancer being treated. Chemotherapy, which is delivered systemically through the blood, affects not only cancer cells but also fast-growing normal cells in the body, such as those in the skin, hair, nails, stomach, and intestines. As a result, common side effects include hair loss, dry or irritated skin, loose stools, and vomiting. Radiotherapy, although now more targeted and precise, also has definite side effects, though they may be reduced with advanced technology. Regarding the chances of cancer returning after treatment, it largely depends on the stage at which the cancer was initially diagnosed and the kind of treatment received. For example, if you had an early-stage cancer and underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy, the risk of recurrence is quite low. On the other hand, if the diagnosis was made at an advanced stage, like stage 4, where the cancer had spread to other organs such as the lungs or liver, the risk of recurrence is significantly higher, even if treatment was provided. For early-stage colorectal cancer, whether chemotherapy is needed depends on the type and extent of spread. If there is local spread or breach in the lining, chemotherapy may be needed either before or after surgery.
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