Name: Best General Surgery & Gastroenterolgy in MRC Nagar, Chennai
Address: MRC Nagar, Chennai
Telephone: 18605002244
Price range: ₹ 1000 - 2000
Rating: 4.6

Colon Cancer Treatment in MRC Nagar, Chennai

Colon cancer is a type of cancer which occurs in the colon, the final section of the large intestine. Colon is the last part of the digestive tract.

Colon cancer is sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the cancer affecting the colon and the rectum together. It impacts the overall functioning of a healthy digestive system.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is usually diagnosed in older adults, although it may also affect individuals at any stage. Colon cancer is a fatal disease if found at a later stage.

The onset of colon cancer is with noncancerous polyps which are deposited inside the lining of the colon. With passage of time and no treatment, these polyps may develop into colon cancer.

Hence, when you are facing problems related to the digestive system, you are advised to consult colorectal cancer specialists near you.

What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

There are certain symptoms which one should take quite seriously, such as:

Prolonged discomfort in abdominal region (cramps, pain, gastric issue, etc)
Rectal bleeding
Blood in stool
Incomplete bowel feel
Change in bowel habits
Frequent diarrhea
Frequent constipation
Weight loss and weakness
Feeling lethargic

What causes colon cancer?

Even with the advancements in medical science, doctors are unable to define the causes that lead to colon cancer. Generally, colon cancer develops when the healthy cells in the colon mutate and change in its DNA genetics. Unlike healthy cells, mutated cancerous cells keep on dividing and producing new cancerous cells. As the time passes, cancerous cells damage and destroy the neighbouring normal healthy cells. If the cancerous cells become metastatic, they move from their original location and cause cancers in other body parts too.

When do you need to see a doctor?

If you observe any visible lump or bulge in your body, followed by the symptoms as mentioned above, consult surgical oncology doctors in Chennai as soon as possible.

In fact, you should seek immediate attention from surgical oncology doctors near you.

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, MRC Nagar, Chennai.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How is colon cancer diagnosed?

Oncologists recommend screening for healthy individuals aged around 50 to spot any signs of colon cancer or polyps. Individuals with a family history of colon cancer are recommended to undergo screening earlier.

In case, you have any symptoms of colon cancer, your oncologist may recommend few tests, including but not limited to:

Blood test
CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) level test
Colonoscopy

Mostly, colonoscopy is used for screening.

How is colon cancer treated?

Treatment of colon cancer depends upon the diagnosis results and the stage of the cancer. Staging of cancer helps in determination of the potential treatment plan. Staging can be done via CT scan, pelvic scan and abdominal scans. Stages of cancer are indicated from I to IV.

For colon cancer at an early stage: If the cancer is very small, minimally invasive surgeries are recommended:
1. Laparoscopic surgery: A laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery where small polyps are removed with help of multiple small incisions in the abdominal wall. Instruments are used which have cameras attached to them and that helps an oncologist surgeon to look into cancer polyp.
2. Endoscopic mucosal resection: A larger polyp can be removed during colonoscopy using specific tools. The procedure is known as endoscopic mucosal resection.
3. Polypectomy: When cancer is localized and contained at the polyp stage, it can be removed during colonoscopy screening itself, known as polypectomy.

For colon cancer at the middle stage: If the colon cancer grows into or through the colon, an oncologist surgeon may suggest:
1. Partial colectomy: In this technique, a part of the colon is removed which contains the cancerous cells along with some healthy tissues.
2. Lymph node removal: Nearby lymph nodes from the area where the polyp has been removed are taken for further testing. This is done by laparoscopic surgery or a colon cancer surgery.

For colon cancer at an advanced stage: If the cancer has reached an advanced stage, it is nearly impossible to cure it. The techniques and procedures applied at this stage are mostly to relieve the symptoms of colon cancer. Few of the techniques applied are:
1. Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses strong X-rays and protons to kill the cancer cells. It is also used to shrink cancerous cells before the cancer surgery. It may also be used to relieve colon cancer symptoms such as pain when surgical treatment is not an option.
2. Chemotherapy: It uses drugs to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is used after the cancer surgery has already been performed. Any other cancerous cells that remain in the body after the surgery can be removed by chemotherapy. However, sometimes chemotherapy is used before a cancer surgery to shrink the cancerous cells and make it easier for surgeons to remove them.
3. Immunotherapy: This technique uses drugs so that the immune system is able to fight cancerous cells. The immune system of the body does not attack its cancer cells considering them as their own. Immunotherapy helps the immune system by interfering with this process.
4. Targeted drug therapy: This technique focuses on particular abnormalities in cancer cells. By obstructing these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can kill cancerous cells.

Conclusion

Most of the individuals do not experience any symptoms at the initial stage of the disease. Watch out for the symptoms of colon cancer or related problems. Visit the best colon cancer doctor in Chennai.