Colorectal Cancer

Our Team at Cancer Associates perform Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer surgeries with great result. Colorectal cancer is a cancer that develops from the cells of the large intestine. Cancer can develop from the cells lining of the large intestine. The cancer can cause blockage of the intestine, or bleeding into fasces.
Causes and Risks The risk of colorectal cancer is increased when there is:
  • A personal history of previous colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer;
  • A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis;
  • A family history of colorectal cancer and/ or familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
Symptoms One of the most common reported symptoms is bleeding. When polyps and tumors grow large, other symptoms may also appear.
  • Unexpected constipation or diarrhea
  • Blood visible in (or on) stool
  • Anemia
  • Abdominal or gas pain
  • Atypical weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
Treatment of Colon Cancer The mainstay of treatment is surgery. The cancer, its surrounding fat and lymph glands are removed during surgery. The two ends of the cut section are joined together. If for some reason the colon cannot be joined, an artificial opening for the colon, called a colostomy, may be required. This opening allows waste to be removed from the body when the normal opening cannot be used or has to be removed. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent. Depending on the stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be required after surgery to improve a person's chance of cure from cancer. Chemotherapy involves injections of anti-cancer drugs into a vein on the hand. Chemotherapy, which lasts from 6 to 12 months, is usually associated with mild mouth ulcers, mild diarrhoea, mild hair loss, possible darkening of complexion, and nausea.. Treatment of Rectal Cancer Again, the mainstay of treatment is surgery. Because of the position of the rectum in the bony pelvis, the chance of cancer spreading to the surrounding organs, such as bladder, uterus and bone, is high. Even if the cancer was totally removed by surgery, occasionally there is concern that undetectable cancer cells may lie in the vicinity since the distance between cancer and normal tissue is so short. Hence, depending on how far the cancer has invaded the surrounding fat and organs, radiation therapy is sometimes used to reduce the size of the colorectal cancer before surgery. More often, it is used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells and prevent the cancer from recurring. Radiotherapy involves giving high-energy rays into a small area where the original cancer was. The course of treatment, given daily for 5 minutes, usually lasts 5 to 6 weeks. Side effects which may occur include diarrhoea, tiredness, skin redness and rash. In some women, radiotherapy brings on early menopause. As with colon cancer, chemotherapy may also be required, after surgery. Radiotherapy may be given together with chemotherapy.