Guide To Colon Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment Options

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

If an individual is suspected of having cancerous cells that penetrate the tissues lining their colon, they may need to have a procedure called an endoscopic mucosal resection as part of their treatment plan. Endoscopic mucosal resection is a procedure involving the removal of a larger sized abnormal growth in the colon or large intestine along with a small portion of the inner lining of the colon. During a colonoscopy, the surgeon may discover polyps that are suspected of having cancerous or precancerous cells that are too technically challenging to be removed with a polypectomy. The configuration, large size, and location of a suspicious polyp all can cause the need for endoscopic mucosal resection. During this procedure, the surgeon injects saline fluid into the tissue underlying the polyp to help lift it from the origination point. Piece by piece, the polyp is then manually removed. When the origination point of the polyp is reached in the colon lining, a healthy part of the lining is removed as well to ensure all cancerous or precancerous cells are eliminated with the challenging polyp.

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Partial Colectomy

A partial colectomy may be necessary to treat a case of colon cancer that has spread into or through the colon. This is a surgical procedure involving the complete excision of part of the colon or large intestine. During a partial colectomy, the surgeon cuts out the region of the colon affected by cancer. Most cases of colon cancer in patients who undergo a partial colectomy do not require additional procedures to make a route for wastes to exit the body. The surgeon is typically able to reattach both ends of the healthy colon or rectum. However, this cannot be done for all individuals who need a partial colectomy to treat their colon malignancy. In such cases, a stoma or an opening in the patient's abdominal wall must be made for waste to be able to exit their body. A special bag is placed over the stoma to collect the waste for disposal. Some patients will have to use a stoma and stoma bag permanently, while others may only need it temporarily during the healing process. If the stoma is temporary, the patient will need to undergo a second procedure to reconnect their rectum to their large intestine.

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