Colon cancer is a potentially life-threatening condition that begins in the large intestine of your digestive tract. Typically, colon cancer begins as an abnormal growth of cells called adenomatous polyps, says the Mayo Clinic. These are usually benign and if not removed, may grow into cancerous tumors. Symptoms of colon cancer include bloody stools, rectal bleeding, changes in your stool's consistency and stomach pain or cramps. Colon cancer also causes fatigue, weakness and unintentional weight loss. There are specific treatments available to manage colon cancer.
Surgery
According to the National Cancer Institute, surgery is the first-line and most common treatment for all stages of colon cancer. There are five specific types of colon cancer surgery: local excision, resection, resection and colostomy, radiofrequency ablation and cryosurgery.
Local excision is typically performed when you have an early form of colon cancer. Via the rectum, your surgeon will access the colon, subsequently cutting out the cancer. There is no incision made in the stomach.
In a resection, the surgeon removes the cancerous and healthy surrounding portions of your colon as well as the lymph nodes. He will suture the remaining parts of your colon in a procedure called anastomosis. Sometimes, your surgeon may not be able to perform an anastomosis if too much of the colon was resected. In this case, your surgeon will place a colostomy bag outside your body. This allows your body to excrete waste directly into the bag.
Radiofrequency ablation involves placing a probe into a small incision in your stomach. This probe emits radiofrequency waves that destroy cancer cells.
In cryosurgery, the cancerous cells are frozen. This is sometimes effective in the beginning stages of cancer. This type of surgery is also referred to as cryotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another treatment option for colon cancer. Chemotherapy is used to destroy cancer cells via medication. This medication is typically given as an intravenous (through your vein) infusion for a set number of minutes, for a specific number of days or weeks, depending on the chemotherapy drug prescribed and the severity of your colon cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, chemotherapy is typically given after surgery. It helps stop cancer cell growth and may relieve your symptoms.
Radiation
Radiation therapy involves using intense X-ray energy to kill cancer cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, two types of radiation can be used: external and internal. External radiation involves using a special radiation machine to focus the energy toward your cancerous cells. Internal radiation involves placing radioactive material into seeds, wires, needles or catheters that are then placed into the body near your cancer cells.
Target Therapy
The Mayo Clinic says that target drug therapy is another treatment option available if you suffer from colon cancer. Drugs such as bevacizumab, cetuximab or panitumumab may be given along with chemotherapy treatment or by itself. These target drugs focus on destroying only the cancer cells and are typically used when you suffer from a later-stage of colon cancer.
