Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in the US. This is alarming when you consider that the food habits and lifestyle of people across the country are becoming worse by the day. For treating colon cancer, doctors mostly resort to surgeries. There are two different categories regarding how colon cancer is treated. In the first one, treatment like surgery or radiation is targeted on a specific area where the cancer is obvious.

The second type is where the treatment is systemic, targeting other areas around the cancerous cells. The colon cancer treatments type depends on the patient’s health condition, cancer stage and personal choice. The most common treatments for colon cancer include:

1. Surgery

Surgery is used to cure colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease when it is in the early stages. As a matter of fact, early detection and treatment of this cancer will not only improve the outcome of surgery but improve quality of life as well. Statistics suggest that more than 92 percent of the people whose cancer is detected early on go to life for more than five years. The type of surgery used depends on where the cancer is located and how far it has spread.

2. Polypectomy

Most Stage 0 and Stage 1 colon cancers can be treated successfully with Polypectomy. This is one of the colon cancer treatments where the cancerous polyps are removed/destroyed using a wire loop attached to the colonoscope which is a flexible tube like instrument with a camera and light at the front end.

3. Colectomy

Colectomy is the removal of a portion of the intestine and is performed by a colorectal surgeon. A total colectomy is rarely required, in which the entire colon is removed. It is only used to treat colon cancer in the presence of hundreds of polyps. People with severe inflammatory bowel disease can also be treated effectively through this procedure.

4. Colostomy surgery

Unlike the above surgical procedures where colon cancer is dealt with from inside the body, colostomy involves the outside of the body. A part of the large intestine is inserted through the abdominal wall after creating an opening. The part that lays outside is referred to as stoma. An external bag is attached on the abdomen in order to collect waste from the intestine. The bag is changed or emptied several times a day or as necessary. Colostomy is done as a temporary solution to emptying the bowel so that sufficient time is given for the colon to heal. Once the colon heals, the cut ends are reattached and stoma is closed up. Only in rare cases permanent colostomy may be required.

5. Treatment recovery

Just like many other medical procedures, it is necessary for the patient and the treating physician to take necessary steps for healing and colon cancer prevention. Some of the risks associated with colon cancer treatment include, but not limited to, infection, blood clots, bleeding, opening of the incision in the abdomen, leaking openings, adhesion and scarring. In preparing for the surgery, the colon should be squeaky clean. This is done by emptying the bowel similar to the one performed during colonoscopy or colon cleansing.

Additionally, the patient may be required to spend time in the hospital for at least a few days following the surgery. Around this time, the nurses and doctors will monitor the patient’s health condition, nutrition, hydration rate, pain level and educate about colon cancer prevention.