Colon Cancer Treatment in Bangalore

A diagnosis of colon cancer can turn your world upside down. Thinking you are healthy one minute and then knowing you have cancer the next will likely result in a slew of complex emotions and uncertainty about how your life will unfold as you go through treatment.

Don’t worry; team MACS is here to assist you in understanding your malignancy and the best available treatment options for you.

At MACS Clinic, Dr. Sandeep Nayak, one of the leading oncologists in India, with his highly-qualified and experienced medical staff, is dedicated to providing comprehensive, individualized colon cancer treatment in Bangalore, India.

If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer and have questions about your condition, the best person to speak with is your doctor, who will be able to answer your questions as they relate to your specific case.

For now, you might want to read this article, which MACS has summarised to help patients learn more about colon cancer.

About Colon Cancer

Laparoscopic colonic cancer surgery is the standard of care today. Extensive evidence exists to prove that laparoscopic colon cancer surgery is safe and effective. In the hands of expert laparoscopic cancer surgeons the disease clearance is proven to be better than conventional open surgery. Laparoscopic colon cancer surgery is less traumatic to the patients and is better accepted by patients. Most of our patients are discharged within 4 days of surgery.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak

DR. SANDEEP NAYAK

MBBS, MRCSEd, DNB (Gen Surg),
MNAMS (Gen Surg), DNB (Surgical Oncology),

Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery.
Dr Nayak is one of the leading senior Surgical Oncologists (cancer surgeon) of Bangalore. He is one of the pioneers of Laproscopic (laparoscopic) cancer treatment (surgery). He is the Director of Surgical Oncology at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore.
Read More..

DR. BHARATH .G

DR. BHARATH .G

MBBS, MS, M.Ch

EDUCATION
MBBS from KIMS, Bangalore
MS from NHLMMC, Ahmedabad
M.Ch Surgical oncology from

Tata Memorial hospital,Mumbai

 WORK EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor in RRMCH, Bangalore

The Advantages of laparoscopic cancer surgery include

What Is Colon Cancer (Large Bowel)?

The colon and rectum make up the large bowel. This section of the digestive tract transports the remains of digested food from the small bowel and eliminates it as waste through the opening to the back passage (anus). Cells that line the colon and rectum may begin to grow out of control, forming a tumour (a growth of cancer cells).

The large bowel has four sections: ascending colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and sigmoid colon. Tumors can start in any of these areas or the back passage. The most common type of cancer is adenocarcinoma. Tumours begin in the innermost layer and can grow through some or all other layers.

anatomy of large intestine

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Colon Cancer

Colonic cancers can come with anemia due to slow loss of blood or with obstruction to bowel. However, these symptoms occur only when the disease is infiltrated locally. Screening methods are available that can detect colonic and rectal cancer before symptoms appear (stage 0). When detected early, these cases can be cured with much simpler surgery.

Colon cancers can come with anemia due to slow blood loss or bowel obstruction. However, these symptoms occur only when the disease is infiltrated locally.

Colon and rectal cancer screening methods can detect the disease before symptoms appear (stage 0). These cases, if detected early, can be treated with much less invasive surgery.

The signs and symptoms of colonic cancer depend on the tumor’s location in the colon. Some of these include:

  • Changes in bowel habits like diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
  • Narrow stools
  • Bright red or very dark blood in the stool
  • Anemia
  • Bloating, gas pains, fullness, and cramps
  • Vomiting
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Chronic fatigue

People who exhibit any of the symptoms listed above should seek medical attention.

Your doctor can recommend the following tests:

  • stool occult blood test helps detect blood in the stool, indicating colon cancer.
  • colonoscopy is used to diagnose colon cancer.

During these procedures, a biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Staging & Treatment of Colon Cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for colonic cancer. The stage of colon cancer can only be determined after surgical removal of the tumor. However, imaging studies such as CT or MRI scans provide a good idea about the operability of the disease and, to a lesser extent, the stage of the disease in many cases.

colon cancer stages

Stage 0

When colon cancer is in its early stages (stage 0), it is limited to the innermost lining (mucosa). An endoscopist can completely excise it while performing endoscopy (polypectomy). If done correctly, this would be a complete treatment. However, more extensive surgery (resection) is commonly required to remove rectal cancers. At this stage, surgery can cure cancer.

Stage I

Stage I tumors have spread beyond the colon’s inner lining (mucosa) into the muscle layer. However, cancer has not spread to the outer wall of the colon or outside the colon.

The curative treatment involves surgery to remove cancer and a normal colon segment to clear lymph nodes (small nodular structures present throughout the body that clear the tissue fluids).

Additional treatments are rarely required. Aggressive surgical removal of all cancer offers a high chance of cure. The five-year survival rate for stage I cases is greater than 90%.

Stage II

Stage II colon cancers are larger and extend through the colon’s muscular wall, but there is no cancer in the lymph nodes. The curative treatment is the surgical removal of the affected area along with the surrounding normal colon to clear the lymph nodes.

Oncologists may give chemotherapy to some patients as a precaution against cancer recurrence. The five-year survival rate for stage II colon cancer is more than 70%

Stage III

Stage III rectal cancers have spread to the lymph nodes from the rectal wall. Lymph nodes are among the first to be affected by the spreading of cancer.

The treatment consists of several methods:

  • Surgery to remove the tumor and affected lymph nodes.
  • After surgery, the patient has to undergo chemotherapy to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

The five-year survival rate for stage III colon cancer is about 60%.

Stage IV

Stage IV colon cancers are the ones that have spread to distant organs. Usually, these include liver or lung. The mainstay of treatment is chemotherapy, but oncologists may recommend surgery to remove the tumor. When performed, surgery is often used to relieve or prevent blockage of the colon or prevent bleeding.

In some cases, doctors may consider curative surgery where all the tumor tissue can be surgically removed (limited number of liver and lung spread). The five-year survival rate can be up to 50% when surgery is possible. If surgery is not feasible, the survival is poor.

When surgery is not an option, other options include destroying them with microwaves or heat (radiofrequency ablation), administering chemotherapy straight into the liver with embolization (chemoembolization), etc.

Surgeries For Colon Cancer

  • The only curative treatment for colon cancer is surgery. All other forms of treatment like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only reduce the risk of cancer recurrence but cannot cure cancer.
  • The type of surgery depends on the tumor’s location in the colon.
  • At MACS Clinic, Dr. Sandeep Nayak, a highly skilled and seasoned surgical oncologist in Bangalore, India, may perform the following colon cancer surgeries with one of the minimally invasive techniques. These include laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
  • Laparoscopic colon cancer surgery is the standard of care today. Extensive evidence proves that laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective.
  • Laparoscopic surgery is less traumatic to the patients and is better accepted by patients. In the hands of expert laparoscopic cancer surgeons like Dr. Sandeep Nayak, the disease clearance is better than conventional open surgery. Most of our patients return home within four days of surgery.
open surgery vs laparoscopic surgery

Now, let’s know the different types of colon cancer surgeries:

  • Right Hemicolectomy: It involves removing the last portion of the small bowel, the ascending colon, the caecum, and a small amount of the transverse colon. The surgeon connects the cut part of the small bowel to the remainder of the large bowel during this surgery.
  • Transverse Colectomy: Removal of the transverse colon. During this procedure, the surgeon joins the ascending and descending colons to each other.
  • Left Hemicolectomy: Removal of the descending colon and sigmoid colon. The cut part of the transverse colon is connected to the rectum.
  • Sigmoid Colectomy: Removal of the sigmoid colon. It involves connecting the descending colon to the rectum.
  • Total Abdominal Colectomy: Removal of the entire colon. The terminal part of the small bowel is attached to the rectum.

The idea of these surgeries is that the affected portion of the bowel and its lymph nodes should be removed. This reduces the risk of recurrence of cancer.

Why Should You Choose MACS Clinic for Colon Cancer Treatment in Bangalore, India?

  • MACS Clinic is a comprehensive cancer care centre, demonstrating our dedication to advancing the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer in Bangalore.
  • Our gastrointestinal oncology program offers patients individualized treatment plans to give them the best chance of a positive outcome and an improved quality of life.
  • Our patients also have access to various supportive care specialists who can assist them in coping with the emotional challenges of cancer treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect following colon surgery?

You will most likely experience intermittent pain after colon surgery for the next few days. You may also experience bowel cramps, and your cut (incision) may be painful. You may feel tired and nauseous, have a low fever, and be exhausted.

Do you need a colostomy bag after having colon removal?

After colon removal, stools will expel through your stoma rather than your anus from the colon, where it forms. To catch the poop when it comes out, you may need to wear a colostomy bag. Some people need a colostomy bag for a few months, while others require it for the rest of their lives.

Is it necessary to stay in the hospital after colon surgery?

Yes. Patients undergoing colon cancer surgery often require a short hospital stay, usually two to four days. The length of time you spend in the hospital depends on how quickly you recover from surgery.

How long does it take for colon cancer to progress?

Colon cancer, or cancer that begins in the lower part of the digestive tract, is typically caused by an adenomatous polyp, a collection of benign (noncancerous) cells. Most polyps will not become malignant (cancerous), but some may do so gradually over 10-15 years.