Cancer Types
Colon Cancer Treatment In Ludhiana, Punjab
Book Appointment
Colon Cancer Tests
To confirm whether the patient has colon cancer or not, the colonoscopy is done. In this procedure, the doctor will insert a long & flexible tube into the rectum to view inside the colon. If the colon polyps are found then the colonoscope will remove them. The pathologist will examine them to check for cancer.
Most cancer removed with this procedure is benign. If any of them are harmful after their removal the chances of colon cancer are prevented. If the biopsy confirms the colon cancer then it will be checked whether the bowel cancer stool has spread to other organs. It can spread to the liver and lungs.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of colon cancer are given below:
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Change in the stool consistency
- Feeling that the bowel is not empty
- Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding
- Persistent abdominal discomforts like cramps, gas, or pain
- The constant change in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation
At an early stage, most people do not experience symptoms. When the symptoms appear, they will be different according to the cancer size and location in the large intestine.
Colon Cancer Causes
The exact reason for colorectal cancer is not known. Generally, it starts when healthy cells in the colon change their DNA. The cell’s DNA has a set of instructions, they need to do. The body functions normally when the healthy cells grow and divide. But when they get damaged and cancerous the cells divide even if the cells are not needed. As the cells increase, they will form cancer.
With time, the cancer cells grow and they affect the normal tissues. The cancer cells will travel to other body parts.
Colon Cancer Diagnosis
The doctor will do a different test to diagnose the problem and according to that Colon Cancer Treatment is given to the patient.
- Colonoscopy
This test will help to look inside the rectum and colon. If the cancer is found, the complete diagnosis will help to describe its location.
- Biopsy
To get the definite diagnosis of the cancer biopsy is helpful. One the sample is taken the pathologist will evaluate the tissues, cells, and organs.
- Blood Test
Blood tests will help to identify the red blood cells in the body which is part of the complete blood count. Well, this is more often used for the people who are getting the treatment.
- MRI
MRI is done to measure the cancer size. In this method, magnetic fields are used which helps in giving a detailed image of the body. Some of the other tests are CT scan, ultrasound, Chest X-ray and a PET-CT scan.
Colon Cancer Stages
- Stage 0
At this stage, cancer has not spread beyond the inner layer of the colon.
- Stage 1
At this stage, cancer has reached the colon inner layer. But it has not reached the lymph nodes.
- Stage 2
This is a little more advanced stage and cancer has spread beyond the mucosa and submucosa.
- Stage 3
At this stage, cancer has reached the outer layers of the colon, and one to three lymph nodes but not to the distant sites, however.
- Stage 4
The 4A stage means it has reached the liver or lungs to one distant site. The 4B stage means cancer has spread to 2 or more distant sites.
When you visit the Colon Cancer hospital they will let you know what the stage is and according to that treatment is given.
Treatment for Colon Cancer
The treatment and Colon Cancer Cost will depend on the type & cancer stage. Most common treatment options are:
- Surgery is helpful to remove the parts of the colon which contain cancer along with the surrounding area. The additional options are Endoscopy, Palliative surgery, and laparoscopic surgery.
- Chemotherapy targets the cancer cells which are dividing rapidly. The medicine is given spreads in the whole body and the treatment takes place in different cycles.
- Radiation therapy kills the harmful cancer cells with high energy rays.