The colon, also known as the large intestine, is lined with epithelial cells. Sometimes these cells develop genetic mutations that cause them to grow abnormally quickly, that is, to become cancerous. Medline notes that surgery is one of the most common treatments for colon cancer because it allows for the rapid removal of the cancerous tissue.
Preparation
Patients need to flush out their colon just before surgery to help limit the risk of infection, according to Medline. This usually involves the patient receiving enemas and consuming strong laxatives. Another option is for the patient to drink up to 1 gallon of a colon cleansing solution the night before the surgery. This is necessary because the colon has bacteria in it that can spread throughout the abdominal cavity during the surgery. Colon cleansing also removes feces from the colon.
Colon Resection
The purpose of surgery for colon cancer is to remove the cancerous portion of the colon. The diseased part will be removed, or resected, from the patient, and the remaining tissue will be reconnected, typically using sutures. This is known as anastomosis and is done to remove the cancerous portion of the colon while still allowing the remaining colon to expel fecal material.
Colostomy
In some cases, the surgeon may decide that a colonic anastomosis will not be successful, especially if a large portion of the colon is removed or there are many different sections of the colon that have to be taken out. In these cases, the surgeon may opt for a colostomy, in which the remaining colon is routed so that it exits the body through the abdomen. A small incision, known as a stoma, is made where the colon exits the abdomen. This allows for fecal material to exit through this opening, where it collects in a bag, known as a colostomy bag. This is necessary because the patient will not longer be able to control the expulsion of feces.
Additional Resection
During colon cancer surgery, the surgeon will also examine the surrounding organs and tissues for abnormalities that could indicate that the cancer has spread from the colon. Lymph nodes around the colon may also be excised and examined using a microscope to look for cancer spread. This microscopic tissue examination may be done during the surgery by a pathologist, or at a later date.
Recovery
As EmedTV explains, most patients feel tired and week for several days after colon cancer surgery, although the length of time for the recovery varies from patient to patient. Patients who have a colon anastomosis may experience diarrhea or constipation while they recover. Patients do need to be monitored after the surgery for bleeding, infection or other complications from the procedure.
