Author:Willox Perez
The doctor is recommending that you have colon cancer surgery to remove it. Colon Cancer Treatment Guidelines Though he went over the surgery in his office, if you are like most of us, your mind started to wander to other concerns that you have. It may be possible that the jargon the doctor used just wasn't making sense at the time. Now you are ready to understand what you are going to go through.
We can start with the basics. I like to know what to expect through the whole process, so that is the information that I am going to give you. You will stay in the hospital over night. After surgery you need to know that it takes time to heal and completely recover from the colon cancer surgery. Much like it does after any major surgery. You can expect to be uncomfortable during your first few days; this is normal and a typical complaint by most.
The most common 'side effect' after colon cancer surgery is fatigue. You are going to be tired and weak. This is normal, and you need to give yourself time to heal and recover. The surgery has also been known to cause constipation or diarrhea. Your health care team at the hospital will be watching you for signs of bleeding, infection or other problems that may require immediate cancer treatment.
Colon cancer surgery is the most common cancer treatment for colon cancer. During the surgery the tumor that you have is going to be removed. Along with that the surgeon will take a small piece of the healthy tissue around the tumor and the adjacent lymph nodes. In most cases, then the surgeon will reconnect the healthy parts of the bowel.
The exception to this is if your cancer includes the rectum. If it does, then the surgeon will remove the rectum and create an opening in the abdomen wall. This opening is called a colostomy. It is through this created hole that solid waste in the colon will then leave the body. There are specialty nurses that will help you adjust to having a colostomy, so you will not be on your own. More often then not, a colostomy is not permanent. It is only needed until healing takes place. Also realize that most patients with colostomies do return to a normal lifestyle.
Depending on when your cancer was detected will determine if you will need radiation or chemotherapy. I am sure that what you really want to know is what the prognosis is. If I go through all this will I survive. Without a crystal ball it is impossible for anyone to give you a definite answer. You need to understand that from the outset. What I can tell you is that the long term prognosis after you have colon cancer surgery will depend on if the cancer spread to any other organs in your body. Usually, the best prognosis comes when the cancer is detected early. Surgery is often the only reasonable cancer treatment and those patients tend to have a long term survival. More then 80exceed the five year survival rate. Unfortunately the farther advanced the cancer the lower the percentage rate is. Medicine is not an exact science in the fact that we can not predict with precision a prognosis on an individual basis. You survival rate is significantly greater with the surgery then without it.
Talk to your doctor and your family. Make a plan and make sure that you have all the information that you need to be comfortable. Healing takes time, let yourself rest and heal properly.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/colon-cancer-treatment-guidelines-1679310.html
