Colon Cancer Surgery and the Side Effects
Colon cancer surgery is the most common treatment for a colon cancer patient. Earlier detection and remedy of potential polyps and early cancers can considerably improve probabilities of survival. However, it depends upon the progress of the cancer in an individual before colon cancer surgery is performed the first time. Before the surgery, the doctor and specialist nurses will explain the operation to you. They will tell you what to expect immediately After Colon Cancer Surgery and in the few days following. There are many things to explain before colon cancer surgery.
Types of Colon Cancer Surgery
Colon Cancer Surgery: Local Excision
If the colon cancer is found at an early stage, the doctor may remove it without cutting through the abdominal wall. Instead, the doctor may put a tube through the rectum into the colon and cut the cancer out.
Colon Cancer Surgery: Resection
If the colon cancer is larger, the doctor will perform a partial colectomy (removing the cancer and a small amount of healthy tissue around it). The surgeon will also usually remove lymph nodes near the colon and examine them under a microscope to see whether they contain cancer.
Colon Cancer Surgery: Colostomy
If the ends of the bowel can’t be rejoined, the upper end can be brought out onto the skin of the abdominal wall. A bag is worn over the stoma to collect the stool (bowel motions). Sometimes a colostomy is only temporary and another operation to rejoin the bowel can be done a few months later.
Colon Cancer Surgery: Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue, such as carcinoma in situ.
Side Effects of Colon Cancer Surgery
It takes time to heal after colon cancer surgery and the patients need Colon Cancer Surgery Recovery. They are often uncomfortable during the first few days. A common side effect is the development of loose stools. After surgery, the colon absorbs less water from the stool, and the colon cancer patient passes loose or watery stools.
The patients commonly feel weak and tired after having colon cancer surgery. The procedure sometimes also causes constipation or diarrhea. The healthcare team will monitor the patient for signs of bleeding, infection, or other problems requiring immediate treatment. The patients may also experience irritation of the skin around the stoma.
Your physician will teach you to clean the area to prevent irritation and Infection after Colon Surgery. A patient usually needs dietary changes that allow the patient to adapt to changes in the colon. Foods such as cabbage, beer, beans, onions and cauliflower can lead to gas after colon cancer surgery.
The patients will be admitted to the ward the day before colon cancer surgery, so that the doctors and nurses can do any further tests. To make sure that your bowel is completely empty, you’ll be asked to follow a strict diet and take a medicine (laxative) to help your bowels to empty the day before surgery. Antibiotics as an injection into a vein (intravenously) will be given just before and after colon cancer surgery to prevent infections.
