Are you aware of colorectal cancer surgery?

When you hear the word "colorectal cancer," some people get a little scared, right? But this is actually a type of cancer that is common in our country and around the world. The main and most successful treatment for this is to remove the part of the colon that contains the cancer cells through surgery. So today, let's talk in a friendly way, what these types of surgeries are, how they are performed, and the most important things you need to know after surgery.

First, let's understand these types of surgeries and their meaning.

The type of surgery varies depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Let's take a look at the main methods used.

What is laparoscopic surgery?

In the past, intestinal surgery required a large incision along the length of the abdomen. This is called "open surgery." It actually takes longer to heal and is more painful.

But now technology has advanced. In the laparoscopic method, the surgeon makes 3 to 6 small incisions, about 5-10 millimeters in size, in your abdomen. A camera (laparoscope) is inserted through one of the incisions. Then, the organs inside the abdomen can be viewed in a magnified way, like on a TV screen. Special instruments are inserted through the other incisions, and the surgery is performed very delicately.

This method is now widely used for conditions such as Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, and even colon cancer.

What are the main types of surgery for colon cancer?

The part of the intestine that is removed varies depending on the location and spread of the cancer. Let's look at some of the types of surgery.

• Partial Colectomy: This involves removing the cancerous part of your colon and a few nearby lymph nodes. Then the remaining healthy parts of your colon are reconnected. This is called an anastomosis . After surgery, your bowel habits will return to most of their normal state.

• Right Colectomy / Ileocolectomy: This involves removing the right part of the large intestine. Sometimes the last part of the small intestine (ileum) that is attached to it is also removed.

• Abdominoperineal Resection: This is a major surgery. Your anus, rectum, and lower part of your colon (sigmoid colon) are completely removed. This means that a permanent opening is made in the skin of your abdomen and a pouch is placed to allow waste to pass through. This is called a permanent colostomy .

• Total Proctocolectomy: This is the most extensive bowel surgery. In this, both the colon and rectum are completely removed.

What other methods are associated with surgery?

Sometimes, there are other things that need to be done in addition to the main surgery. It's important to be aware of these as well.

Stoma or Ostomy

Simply put, a stoma is a procedure that connects a portion of the intestine to the skin surface of the abdomen, creating a new opening for waste to exit.

• If the end of the large intestine is connected, it is called a colostomy .
• If the end of the small intestine is connected, it is called an ileostomy .

A special bag (Stoma Bag) is used to collect waste products from this stoma. Sometimes these are temporary . That is, they are only left in place until the surgical site heals. In a few months, another small operation is performed to remove this and reconnect the bowel from the inside. However, as mentioned earlier, in some surgeries, these have to be left in place permanently .

Inner bags (Pouches)

Sometimes, after the anus is completely removed, a small pouch is created inside the body from the small intestine to collect and store waste. This eliminates the need for an external pouch. The Ileal (J) Pouch is a popular method of this type. However, these are somewhat complex surgeries.

Liver Surgery

Colon cancer can sometimes spread to the liver. In that case, depending on the extent of the cancer, the liver cancer may also be removed at the same time as the colon surgery.

Recovery and precautions after surgery

Most people recover well after these surgeries. You will need to take painkillers for the first few days. You may be told to only eat liquid foods. But you will be able to eat normally after a few days.

However, like any surgery, there are some risks, such as bleeding, infection, and blood clots in the legs.

It is very important to stay in touch with your medical team after surgery. Follow their instructions exactly. They may recommend other treatments, such as chemotherapy, in addition to surgery.