Colorectal Cancer ( Colon Cancer ) Treatment: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

Before preparing a treatment plan, the doctor is likely to order a few tests. These may include the following:

• Fecal occult blood test (blood stool test)
• Stool DNA test
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Biopsy
• Ultrasound
• MRI

These tests are used for diagnosis of colorectal cancer. With the help of these tests, the surgeon is able to identify the extent of cancer and accordingly prepare a treatment plan that will suit patient the most.

Colorectal cancer treatment is initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. However, it is important to determine the stage of cancer before initiating colorectal cancer treatment. The stage of cancer is also determined with the help of tests mentioned above.

The following are the different stages of colorectal cancer:

• Stage 0: It is the earliest stage when the cancer is still within the mucosa of the colon or rectum.
• Stage I: At this stage, the growth of cancer reaches the inner layer of the colon or rectum, but has not yet spread beyond the wall of the rectum or colon.
• Stage II: Cancer extends through the wall of the adjacent structures at this stage. However, it has not reached the nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage III: In this stage, cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, but it has not yet affected any other parts of the body.
• Stage IV: In this stage, cancer has metastasized to distant organs or lymph nodes, including other organs such as the liver, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity, lung or ovary.
• Recurrent: This is a returning stage in which cancer returns after treatment. It may again affect the rectum, colon or elsewhere in the body.

The doctor selects the most appropriate course of treatment for the patient after assessing the stage. Every patient has a customized treatment plan that is designed to best address their unique needs. The following options could be part of the treatment strategy.

Different types of surgery options can be used as per the identified stage of colorectal cancer. Surgery can be divided into two major segments: Early-stage colorectal cancer surgery and advanced-stage colorectal cancer surgery.

Early-stage colorectal cancer surgery: This is a minimally invasive form of surgery, which is typically recommended when the cancer is small and has not spread to other parts of the body. Early stage colorectal cancer surgery includes the following procedures:

• Removing polyps during colonoscopy: If the cancer is small and in its early stage, your doctor may be able to remove it completely during a colonoscopy.
• Endoscopic mucosal resection: In this procedure, a larger polyp can be removed by taking out a small amount of the lining of the colon.
• Minimally invasive surgery: It is also called laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, your surgeon operates the polyps by making several small incisions in your abdominal wall. Instruments with attached cameras are inserted that display your colon on a video monitor.

Advance-stage colorectal cancer surgery

This is a more invasive surgical option, recommended when cancer has grown into or through your colon. It can be of the following types:

• Partial colectomy: During this procedure, the surgeon removes the part of the colon that contains cancer. Normal tissue may also be removed along with a margin cancer. The healthy portions of the colon or rectum are reconnected after the removal of cancer.
• Surgery to create a way for waste to leave your body: You may need a permanent or temporary colostomy when it is not possible to reconnect the healthy portions of your colon or rectum.
• Lymph node removal: Usually, nearby lymph nodes are also removed during colon cancer surgery to remove cancer or to prevent cancer recurrence.

Chemotherapy

In chemotherapy treatment, an anti-cancer drug is used to destroy the cancerous cells. It is commonly used before surgery, in an attempt to shrink a tumor before its surgical removal. It can also be given to relieve symptoms of colon cancer, in case it has spread to other parts of the body.

A certain number of chemotherapy cycles are also repeated after the surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells. This helps minimize the chances of cancer recurrence.

Radiation therapy

In this treatment, radiation beams such as X-ray or proton beams are used to kill cancer cells. It also prevents cancer cells from multiplying any further. This treatment is more commonly used for rectal cancer treatment before surgery to shrink the tumor. It can also be used after the surgery. Radiation therapy is the best treatment if cancer has penetrated through the wall of the rectum or traveled to nearby lymph nodes. 

Targeted drug therapy

Targeted drug therapy is typically used for people with advanced colon cancer. It can be given alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Specific drugs help cancer cells commit suicide and strengthen the immune system. However, this treatment comes with limited benefits and risk of side effects.

Patients undergoing the surgery are required to stay in the hospital for at least two to three days after the surgery. You may expect yourself to be discharged from the hospital after regaining bowel function and the ability to eat without the support of an IV. Pain is controlled with the help of medications and it may take another two to three weeks at home before you can switch back to your normal routine.

If the Patient had surgery for the removal of bowel cancer, it may take a few weeks before you can return to work. In the case of laparoscopic surgery, you can return to work in about two weeks. In the case of open surgery, it may take around four to six weeks for you to return to work.

Patients must pay particular attention to eating the right food and avoid dehydration after bowel cancer surgery. Include high-protein foods in your diet and choose low-fiber foods if you have diarrhea. Additionally, eat limited amounts of green vegetables and only eat peeled fruits.

Patients who undergo chemotherapy before or after the surgery may experience a few side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and pint pain. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to minimize the side effects and recover quickly. Take emergency medications prescribed by the doctor, if needed.