Colon Cancer Treatment
If colon cancer is detected during a colonoscopy, additional tests will
be performed to determine if the cancer has spread. CT or PETscans may
be utilized to help stage the cancer, and help determine the treatment path.
Surgery is the main treatment option for colon cancer. During surgery,
the section of the colon that contains the cancerous tumor along with
the adjacent lymph nodes will be removed,. Hoag’s skilled surgeons
utilize two minimally invasive techniques for colon cancer surgery. These include:
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Robotic-assisted surgery
Both are excellent, effective surgical techniques for safely removing cancer
cells. The surgical technique will be selected depending on the patient,
their stage of cancer and location.
Once the cancer is surgically removed from the colon, a pathology report
will determine if other treatment options are needed, such as chemotherapy.
This is called adjuvant therapy – a secondary therapy that follows
the primary treatment to improve results.