Procedures of Colorectal Cancer Surgery and its Recovery

Colon cancer often begins in pre-cancerous colon polyps. These polyps are known as adenomatous polyps. Such polyps can transform into cancer and spread to the intestine’s wall. Adenocarcinoma is one of the most common types of colon cancer. Other types of colon cancer are sarcomas, lymphomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and carcinoid tumors. To cure colon and rectal cancer, colorectal cancer surgery is often used as a form of treatment. In this blog, you will find the surgery procedure and its recovery.

How is staging done before colorectal cancer surgery?

To find out the stage of colorectal cancer, the following tests may be done:

●    Physical exam

It is a general exam to check the current condition of your body.

●    Fecal Occult Blood Testing

With the help of this test, your stool will be assessed for blood. A fecal immunochemical test and a guaiac-based fecal occult blood test are used.

●    DNA testing of stool

This particular test checks for the abnormal nature of DNA in the stool.

●    Radiology

Radiology tests help look inside the body through a chest x-ray, CT scan, MRI, and virtual colonoscopy to check whether colorectal cancer has spread to other body parts.

The procedures of colorectal cancer surgery

Several types of surgical procedures are used to treat colorectal cancer. Selecting any type of colorectal cancer surgery depends on the patient’s current condition.

●    Polypectomy or local excision

A colonoscopy helps in removing an abnormal area of cancer, such as a polyp. Only the polyp is removed through a polypectomy. A few tissues on the colon wall are removed during a local excision.

●    Colon resection

Colon resection or colectomy is used to remove cancer cells. A couple of colectomies are there, which include partial colectomy and total colectomy. During a partial colectomy, a colorectal cancer surgeon in Kolkata sews both ends of the colon back together, known as anastomosis. During a total colectomy, the whole colon is removed. Besides removing the entire colon, lymph nodes might also be removed during this surgical procedure.

●    Laparoscopy

Small incisions are made by a colorectal cancer doctor during laparoscopic colorectal surgery to remove any abnormal areas.

Recovery procedure after undergoing colorectal cancer surgery

Here are a few recovery tips you should follow after undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

• Avoid heavy lifting for at least 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
• Take all medications strictly prescribed by the doctor.
• Take a light shower.
• Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.

These are the important procedures of colorectal cancer surgery that will help in  quick recovery from colorectal cancer.