Colon and Rectum Resection
The colon (the last part of the large intestine) and the rectum (the channel that carries waste to the anus) are located at the bottom end of the abdomen, and their presence is a major factor in regular bowel movements and waste disposal. Both can be affected by colon and rectal cancer, and colon and rectum resection is considered an effective treatment, especially if done early. In this article, we shed light on the treatment methods for colon and rectal cancer, their complications, and other diseases that can affect the colon and their symptoms, such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
What are the stages of colon and rectal cancer?
- Stage 1: In this stage, the tumor is in the colon and has not penetrated its wall. Treatment involves resection of the colon (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue).
- Stage 2: In this stage, colon cancer extends beyond the colon wall, and the treatment involves colon resection (surgical removal of the tumor).
- Stage 3: In this stage, the tumor extends to the lymph nodes inside the colon, and the patient undergoes chemotherapy before colon resection.
- Stage 4: Stage 4 is the final stage where the tumor has progressed beyond surgery and colon resection to chemotherapy, as cancer has spread to other organs such as bones, lungs, and liver.
What are the types of colon resection surgeries?
- First: Total colon resection, which involves removing the entire colon.
- Second: Partial colon resection, which involves removing only a part of the colon.
- Third: Removal of half of the colon, with the option of removing either the right or left side.
- Fourth: Colon and rectum resection (the lower part of the colon), which involves removing both the rectum and the colon together.
What are the stages of rectal cancer?
- Stage 0: Cancer cells are in this stage on the surface of the rectal mucosa or sometimes inside crypts.
- Stage 1: In this stage, cancer extends beneath the rectal lining, sometimes crossing the rectal wall.
- Stage 2: The tumor in this stage penetrates or extends through the rectal wall and may sometimes grow into or adhere to adjacent tissues.
- Stage 3: Lymph nodes near the rectum are attacked by cancer in this stage, and the cancer also attacks tissues and structures outside the rectal wall.
- Stage 4: The cancerous tumor in this stage affects organs distant from the rectum and lymph nodes that are not adjacent to it.
Colon and Rectum Surgery
The rectum measures up to twelve centimeters and is divided into three parts, each four centimeters long. The treatment plan for rectal cancer depends on several factors:
- The degree of the tumor in the rectum and its stage.
- The distance of the tumor from the anus and its specific location in the rectum.
- The occurrence of ascites in the abdomen and metastases in the liver.
- The presence of lymph nodes in the abdomen.
- The general health condition of the patient.
- The patient's age.
- The patient's medical history.
A committee comprising a surgeon, a chemotherapy doctor, a radiation therapy doctor, and the patient himself is formed to choose the most appropriate methods for treating rectal cancer.
