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Colon Cancer Treatment in India
About Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the term commonly used to describe colo-rectal (or bowel) cancer. The colon is part of the intestines which consists of the small intestine (the section between the stomach and the appendix) and the large intestine (from the appendix to the anus). The large intestine is divided into the long colon and a short rectum, just before the anus. Two thirds of these cancers occur in the colon and one third in the rectum, with very few in the small intestine.
Risk Factors of Colon Cancer:
Age: Like other cancers, colon cancer risk increases with age (over 50)
Obesity: If you are overweight, your risk of colon cancer increases
Alcohol: High alcohol intake is also known to increase the risk of the colon cancer
Family history: If you have a family member with colon cancer then you are at risk of getting the cancer yourself
Radiation: A very few percentage of cancer can be caused to people with cancer who have been treated with radiation
Polyps in the bowel: Growth in the bowel (polyps) can become cancerous over a period of time
Symptoms of Colon Cancer:
There are a variety of known symptoms of colon cancer including:
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Blood in the faeces
- Blockage of the bowel
- A lump in the back passage or abdomen
- Low level of red blood cells
- Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss
Diagnosis for Colon Cancer:
There are several ways in which we can screen for colon cancer. Checking for blood in the faeces is one of the simplest methods known.
- Sigmoidoscopy: A more accurate but less pleasant method is sigmoidoscopy in which a flexible optical device is used to examine the inside of the rectum and colon.
- Colonoscopy: It is used to visually examine the inside of the colon. Usually, a barium enema is used to take an x-ray of the shape of the inside of the bowel
Other techniques such as CT scanning or ultrasound can also be used to diagnose the spread of the cancer
Prevention for Colon Cancer:
- Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight by exercising regularly
- According to research, the use of aspirin is linked with reduced polyps and colon cancer
- Regular checkups should be done if any of the family member has colon cancer
Stages of Colon Cancer
The staging of colon cancer helps doctors determine a course of treatment. Staging is done on a scale from 0 to 4, with the higher stages indicating a cancer than has spread more throughout the body.
Stage 0: In this stage, the cancer hasn’t grown beyond the inner layer of the colon or rectum.
Stage I: The cancer has spread through the colon’s inner lining, but hasn’t spread beyond the colon wall or rectum.
Stage II: The cancer has grown through the colon or rectal wall, but hasn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage III: The cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes but isn’t affecting other parts of the body.
Stage IV: The cancer has metastasized throughout the body to sites such as the liver, lung, ovaries or the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Colon Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Rectal Cancer Treatment in India
Surgery
Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and involves in block removal of diseased segment with adequate margins, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. The names given to such resections are right hemicolectomy, transverse colectomy, left hemicolectomy, sigmoid colectomy, and subtotal colectomy.
- Polypectomy: If the cancer is found in a polyp (a small piece of bulging tissue), the polyp is often removed during a colonoscopy.
- Local excision: If the cancer is found on the inside surface of the rectum and has not spread into the wall of the rectum, the cancer and a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue is removed.
- Resection: If the cancer has spread into the wall of the rectum, the section of the rectum with cancer and nearby healthy tissue is removed. Sometimes the tissue between the rectum and the abdominal wall is also removed. The lymph nodes near the rectum are removed and checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.
- Pelvic exenteration: If the cancer has spread to other organs near the rectum, the lower colon, rectum, and bladder are removed. In women, the cervix, vagina, ovaries, and nearby lymph nodes may be removed. In men, the prostate may be removed. Artificial openings (stoma) are made for urine and stool to flow from the body to a collection bag.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy beams or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses linear accelerators outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy (Brachytherapy) uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly in the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Other Types of Treatment
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy is a type of targeted therapy being studied in the treatment of rectal cancer.
Monoclonal antibody therapy uses antibodies made in the laboratory from a single type of immune system cell. These antibodies can identify substances on cancer cells or normal substances that may help cancer cells grow. The antibodies attach to the substances and kill the cancer cells, block their growth, or keep them from spreading. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They may be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells.
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