Colon Surgery

Colon cancer - senior couple at the doctor's office for a checkup

For the latest information on colon surgery and current news on other colon cancer topics, please accept a free weekly subscription to the CCR Newsletter.

There are two types of colon surgery:

open colon/abdominal surgery
laparoscopic colon/abdominal surgery

Colon surgery is done laparoscopically whenever possible because it involves doing several small, inch-long incisions and the recovery time is shorter. Open colon surgery is done if the surgeons really need to get inside the abdomen and do a lot of work, such as with abscess cleaning, colon cancer surgery or when large amounts of colon need to be removed.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Surgery Indicators

The indications for colon surgery include colon cancer, obstruction of the colon, colon polyps, diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Remember that the colon is the last part of the bowels and involves the ascending colon, the transverse colon and the descending colon. It is in these areas and the rectum that colon cancers form. Another name for "colon" is "large intestine". It is part of the bowels that is looked at with a colonoscopy.

Doctors perform more than 600,000 colon surgery operations every year in order to remove a portion of the colon. The actual condition resulting in resection of the colon includes benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) lesions.

The conventional or open operations are up and down incisions that are around five inches long. It takes between five and seven days to recover from this kind of operation in order to be able to leave the hospital. It also takes that long to get bowel function back again and be able to have a normal bowel movement. Patients begin taking IV medications for pain and eventually go back to taking oral pain medications (by mouth).

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic colon surgery is done a little bit differently. It is much less invasive and, while there are several incisions, they are spread out and are small. Certain kinds of colon polyps that can’t be removed by means of colonoscopy can be removed using a laparoscope.

This type of colon surgery is becoming more popular as more surgeons become good at doing the procedure. Inside the abdomen, the exact operation is done using the open method but the time to recovery is much faster. It can often take a day or so to recover from this procedure enough to go home.

Why Colon Surgery?

One of the conditions that can be removed by open or laparoscopic colon surgery are adenomatous polyps. These are colon growths that come out of the lining of the colon. They start as small lesions that grow and begin to bleed. They also can become big enough to cause blockage of the colon. If they are not caught, they can turn into colon cancer and can require a much bigger colon surgery. If they are too large or are cancerous, they can’t be removed by a colonoscopy and must be removed by means of a colon surgery.

Diverticulosis or diverticulitis may need to be treated with antibiotics and colon surgery. The doctor removes the infected diverticuli and any abscess that has formed around it. This surgery may have to be done using an open colon surgery. The area around the infected colon is removed, especially if it also has diverticuli.

Colon cancer is another reason why a person might have colon surgery. The doctor may try to use laparoscopic surgery but often needs to use an open surgery in order to remove all of the cancerous tissue and any involved lymph nodes. Sometimes the doctor may order chemotherapy to shrink the cancerous tumor before having the actual surgery.

Recovery

Colon surgery can be risky but most people do just fine and recover within a week, regardless of the type of surgery they had. If you have open colon surgery, you need to avoid heavy lifting for at least six weeks or you may get disruption of the incision or a hernia.

Written by Christine Traxler

Facts on Colon Cancer - Knowing the facts on colon cancer can save your life.
Colon Cancer Stages - Colon Cancer Stages describes the stages of colon cancer from zero to four. With each stage, it explains the degree of seriousness and the relative ease or difficulty of cure depending on the stage. The page also describes the anatomy of the colon and explains what a polyp is and how it can cause...
What is Cancer? - What is Cancer provides concrete information on what cancer actually is. It continues to explain what happens to cancer cells and how the cells can create a ‘mass’ called a tumor ,or even push its way through a...
What Causes Colon Cancer? - What Causes Colon Cancer discusses the various causes of colon cancer, such as how cancer cells come about and what they are. In addition it also explores various possible origins of cancer. Within each cause it goes into brief detail of what this specific issue can do to harm your body and the risk factor...
Best Cancer Hospitals - 10 Best Cancer Hospitals gives a list of 10 well respected hospitals in the U.S that specialize in treating cancer. Furthermore it gives advice on how to seek a doctor fit for you and your treatment. You are provided with valuable information on how to make your decision on which doctor will be a best fit for your particular cancer, also advising you to always get a second...
Hospital Insurance - Hospital insurance issues discusses common insurance concerns. You are encouraged to ask your health insurance provider specific questions which are listed on this page. In addition the page gives guidance on how to...
Women Colon Cancer Patients - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to...
Types of Polyps - Types of Polyps lists the most common polyps. It goes on to describe each polyp and how dangerous the polyp could be to your body. Being aware of the different polyps is vital for cancer prevention and to...
Colonoscopy Risks - Colonoscopy risks are rare but significant. This page explains how the benefits outweigh the risks, and goes on to express how the risks should not prevent anyone from getting screened. A colonoscopy is a crucial procedure for anyone over the age of 50 or if...
Small Intestine Cancer - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to...
Sigmoid Colon - This page describes the anatomy of the sigmoid colon. It explains the colon’s main function, which is to absorb water and minerals and make and eliminate feces. Sigmoid cancer starts in the inner layer of tissue in the wall of the colon and rectum. Some important prevention methods are to maintain a healthy diet and...
Famous People With Colon Cancer - This page illustrates the fact that famous people get cancer too! A long list of famous people with colon cancer is provided. The page briefly talks about Katie Couric and her bold attempt to raise colon cancer awareness by...
Famous People With Cancer - Famous people with Cancer answers a question we’ve all been dying to know which is, how do famous people with cancer get special medical care? The page gives us Mr. Josephs story and how he took action against the big fight called cancer. He was not famous but...
Cancer Costs - This page gives advice on how to deal with high cancer costs. It explains how essential it is to find out exactly how much your treatments will cost you and what your insurance provider intends to cover. You are encouraged to talk to your employer or explore other options if needed such as...
Cost of Chemotherapy - The High Cost of Chemotherapy page gives guidance for alternative options in support of patients who cannot afford the cost of their treatment. Statistics show that 12% of colon cancer patients spend over 25,000 dollars out of pocket and...
Gardner Syndrome - - Gardner Syndrome is a genetic disease that causes a person to have extra growths called polyps. Usually polyps are not cancerous but with this disease the polyps are 100% cancerous. If Gardner Syndrome runs in your family it is critical that you get screened as early as 10 to 12 years of age. Gardner Syndrome can also be originated from...
History of Colon Cancer - This page discusses how vital it is for one to know about the history of colon cancer, especially if you have a family history of colon cancer. If any of your direct ancestors have had colon cancer then you are at high risk. The page also talks about the history of colon cancer treatment and provides a list of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies have been effective for some but...
Types of Colon Polyps - There are 4 primary types of colon polyps. The two most common types are adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Polyps are not always be cancerous, and if detected early they can be easily removed. Getting a colonoscopy is the best way to prevent polyps from becoming cancerous. Polyps occur in about 30 to...
Colonoscopy Sedation - Colonoscopy sedation is effective with various drugs and sometimes hypnosis. Two common colonoscopy sedation drugs are Versed and Propofol. Versed is commonly used as an anti-anxiety drug, it causes you to go into a state of deep relaxation or sleep and also causes amnesia. Propofol is a more powerful drug and is mainly used with patients who take narcotics for pain, unfortunately not all...
Colon Cancer Prognosis - Colon cancer prognosis can vary for each stage of colon cancer. The prognosis at this point is typically a five year survival rate of less than 5 %. But keep in mind that...
Lynch Syndrome - Lynch syndrome is an inherited disease that increases the chances of getting cancer. If you have this disease it is imporatant that you get screened regularly. Some of the symptoms can include...
Health Insurance for Cancer - Health insurance for cancer is an insurance personally tailored to your situation and is usually some combination of major medical and supplemental cancer insurance. Since major medical insurance isn't always enough it's...
Polyps in Colon - This article talks about colon polyps, benign lesions on the colon that may or may not lead to cancer of the colon. Most polyps on the colon need to be removed on the chance that they could lead to cancer. Some families have members with multiple polyps on their colons. These families need careful follow-up and treatment of their polyps.
Top Cancer Hospitals - If you’ve been recently diagnosed with cancer, you have a lot of decisions to make. You want to go to the very best place available to you for your cancer treatment. A top cancer hospital has specialists that are the best in their field of cancer care. If you have colon cancer...
Colon Surgery - Colon surgery can be done to remove benign or cancerous lesions of the colon. Doctors can do laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of lesion to be removed.
List of Hospitals - If you have cancer, you are probably scared and want a list of hospitals that might help you. This article will help you find that list of hospitals you need to make the right choices in your care.
Cancer of the Small Bowel - Cancer of the small bowel is less common than cancer of the large bowel. 52,000 people die from large bowel cancer per year compared to only about 1100 from cancer of the small bowel.
Online Nursing Programs - Learn more about colon cancer in nursing training programs.
Causes of Tinnitus - Tinnitus is a side effect of chemotherapy. Other causes of tinnitus are explained here. Help for tinnitus is described here also.
Tinnitus in Children - Tinnitus in children is a serious problem. It is the result of platinum based chemotherapy drugs. Help; is on the way with two new drugs being tested.
Sounds of Tinnitus - The sounds of tinnitus can vary. The only cure is surgery for a tumor. Other remedies can help you cope with the noise.
Pulsatile Tinnitus - Pulsating tinnitus can be caused by high blood pressure, a sinus infection, or a tumor. Remedies include prescription drugs, acoustic therapy and eardrops.
Small Bowel Cancer - Small bowel cancer starts in the lining of the small bowel or small intestine. Cells begin to grow out of control and change into a tumor. The tumor may be noncancerous and can cause obstruction of the small bowel or it can be cancerous and...
Aspirin and Tinnitus - Take aspirin and tinnitus might follow. There are remedies for tinnitus. You will read about them on this web page.
Intestinal Cancer - Intestinal cancer is staged similar to colon cancer with stage I being small, well localized cancer and stage IV being metastatic disease. Doctors can determine the stage of the cancer at the time surgery is performed to remove the tumor and lymph...

	Colon Cancer Resource Helping you find a cure
	Colon Surgery For the latest information on colon surgery and current news on other colon cancer topics, please accept a free weekly subscription to the CCR Newsletter. There are two types of colon surgery: open colon/abdominal surgery laparoscopic colon/abdominal surgery Colon surgery is done laparoscopically whenever possible because it involves doing several small, inch-long incisions and the recovery time is shorter. Open colon surgery is done if the surgeons really need to get inside the abdomen and do a lot of work, such as with abscess cleaning, colon cancer surgery or when large amounts of colon need to be removed. AVAILABLE NOW! Surgery Indicators The indications for colon surgery include colon cancer, obstruction of the colon, colon polyps, diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Remember that the colon is the last part of the bowels and involves the ascending colon, the transverse colon and the descending colon. It is in these areas and the rectum that colon cancers form. Another name for "colon" is "large intestine". It is part of the bowels that is looked at with a colonoscopy. Doctors perform more than 600,000 colon surgery operations every year in order to remove a portion of the colon. The actual condition resulting in resection of the colon includes benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) lesions. The conventional or open operations are up and down incisions that are around five inches long. It takes between five and seven days to recover from this kind of operation in order to be able to leave the hospital. It also takes that long to get bowel function back again and be able to have a normal bowel movement. Patients begin taking IV medications for pain and eventually go back to taking oral pain medications (by mouth). Laparoscopic Surgery Laparoscopic colon surgery is done a little bit differently. It is much less invasive and, while there are several incisions, they are spread out and are small. Certain kinds of colon polyps that can’t be removed by means of colonoscopy can be removed using a laparoscope. This type of colon surgery is becoming more popular as more surgeons become good at doing the procedure. Inside the abdomen, the exact operation is done using the open method but the time to recovery is much faster. It can often take a day or so to recover from this procedure enough to go home. Why Colon Surgery? One of the conditions that can be removed by open or laparoscopic colon surgery are adenomatous polyps. These are colon growths that come out of the lining of the colon. They start as small lesions that grow and begin to bleed. They also can become big enough to cause blockage of the colon. If they are not caught, they can turn into colon cancer and can require a much bigger colon surgery. If they are too large or are cancerous, they can’t be removed by a colonoscopy and must be removed by means of a colon surgery. Diverticulosis or diverticulitis may need to be treated with antibiotics and colon surgery. The doctor removes the infected diverticuli and any abscess that has formed around it. This surgery may have to be done using an open colon surgery. The area around the infected colon is removed, especially if it also has diverticuli. Colon cancer is another reason why a person might have colon surgery. The doctor may try to use laparoscopic surgery but often needs to use an open surgery in order to remove all of the cancerous tissue and any involved lymph nodes. Sometimes the doctor may order chemotherapy to shrink the cancerous tumor before having the actual surgery. Recovery Colon surgery can be risky but most people do just fine and recover within a week, regardless of the type of surgery they had. If you have open colon surgery, you need to avoid heavy lifting for at least six weeks or you may get disruption of the incision or a hernia. Written by Christine Traxler Related pages: Facts on Colon Cancer - Knowing the facts on colon cancer can save your life. Colon Cancer Stages - Colon Cancer Stages describes the stages of colon cancer from zero to four. With each stage, it explains the degree of seriousness and the relative ease or difficulty of cure depending on the stage. The page also describes the anatomy of the colon and explains what a polyp is and how it can cause... What is Cancer? - What is Cancer provides concrete information on what cancer actually is. It continues to explain what happens to cancer cells and how the cells can create a ‘mass’ called a tumor ,or even push its way through a... What Causes Colon Cancer? - What Causes Colon Cancer discusses the various causes of colon cancer, such as how cancer cells come about and what they are. In addition it also explores various possible origins of cancer. Within each cause it goes into brief detail of what this specific issue can do to harm your body and the risk factor... Best Cancer Hospitals - 10 Best Cancer Hospitals gives a list of 10 well respected hospitals in the U.S that specialize in treating cancer. Furthermore it gives advice on how to seek a doctor fit for you and your treatment. You are provided with valuable information on how to make your decision on which doctor will be a best fit for your particular cancer, also advising you to always get a second... Hospital Insurance - Hospital insurance issues discusses common insurance concerns. You are encouraged to ask your health insurance provider specific questions which are listed on this page. In addition the page gives guidance on how to... Women Colon Cancer Patients - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to... Types of Polyps - Types of Polyps lists the most common polyps. It goes on to describe each polyp and how dangerous the polyp could be to your body. Being aware of the different polyps is vital for cancer prevention and to... Colonoscopy Risks - Colonoscopy risks are rare but significant. This page explains how the benefits outweigh the risks, and goes on to express how the risks should not prevent anyone from getting screened. A colonoscopy is a crucial procedure for anyone over the age of 50 or if... Small Intestine Cancer - Women Colon Cancer Patients discusses how most people automatically assume that male colon cancer patients outnumber women, but in actuality there are slightly more women diagnosed with colon cancer. The page continues to explain the benefits of a colonoscopy and encourages you to... Sigmoid Colon - This page describes the anatomy of the sigmoid colon. It explains the colon’s main function, which is to absorb water and minerals and make and eliminate feces. Sigmoid cancer starts in the inner layer of tissue in the wall of the colon and rectum. Some important prevention methods are to maintain a healthy diet and... Famous People With Colon Cancer - This page illustrates the fact that famous people get cancer too! A long list of famous people with colon cancer is provided. The page briefly talks about Katie Couric and her bold attempt to raise colon cancer awareness by... Famous People With Cancer - Famous people with Cancer answers a question we’ve all been dying to know which is, how do famous people with cancer get special medical care? The page gives us Mr. Josephs story and how he took action against the big fight called cancer. He was not famous but... Cancer Costs - This page gives advice on how to deal with high cancer costs. It explains how essential it is to find out exactly how much your treatments will cost you and what your insurance provider intends to cover. You are encouraged to talk to your employer or explore other options if needed such as... Cost of Chemotherapy - The High Cost of Chemotherapy page gives guidance for alternative options in support of patients who cannot afford the cost of their treatment. Statistics show that 12% of colon cancer patients spend over 25,000 dollars out of pocket and... Gardner Syndrome - - Gardner Syndrome is a genetic disease that causes a person to have extra growths called polyps. Usually polyps are not cancerous but with this disease the polyps are 100% cancerous. If Gardner Syndrome runs in your family it is critical that you get screened as early as 10 to 12 years of age. Gardner Syndrome can also be originated from... History of Colon Cancer - This page discusses how vital it is for one to know about the history of colon cancer, especially if you have a family history of colon cancer. If any of your direct ancestors have had colon cancer then you are at high risk. The page also talks about the history of colon cancer treatment and provides a list of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies have been effective for some but... Types of Colon Polyps - There are 4 primary types of colon polyps. The two most common types are adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps. Polyps are not always be cancerous, and if detected early they can be easily removed. Getting a colonoscopy is the best way to prevent polyps from becoming cancerous. Polyps occur in about 30 to... Colonoscopy Sedation - Colonoscopy sedation is effective with various drugs and sometimes hypnosis. Two common colonoscopy sedation drugs are Versed and Propofol. Versed is commonly used as an anti-anxiety drug, it causes you to go into a state of deep relaxation or sleep and also causes amnesia. Propofol is a more powerful drug and is mainly used with patients who take narcotics for pain, unfortunately not all... Colon Cancer Prognosis - Colon cancer prognosis can vary for each stage of colon cancer. The prognosis at this point is typically a five year survival rate of less than 5 %. But keep in mind that... Lynch Syndrome - Lynch syndrome is an inherited disease that increases the chances of getting cancer. If you have this disease it is imporatant that you get screened regularly. Some of the symptoms can include... Health Insurance for Cancer - Health insurance for cancer is an insurance personally tailored to your situation and is usually some combination of major medical and supplemental cancer insurance. Since major medical insurance isn't always enough it's... Polyps in Colon - This article talks about colon polyps, benign lesions on the colon that may or may not lead to cancer of the colon. Most polyps on the colon need to be removed on the chance that they could lead to cancer. Some families have members with multiple polyps on their colons. These families need careful follow-up and treatment of their polyps. Top Cancer Hospitals - If you’ve been recently diagnosed with cancer, you have a lot of decisions to make. You want to go to the very best place available to you for your cancer treatment. A top cancer hospital has specialists that are the best in their field of cancer care. If you have colon cancer... Colon Surgery - Colon surgery can be done to remove benign or cancerous lesions of the colon. Doctors can do laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, depending on the type of lesion to be removed. List of Hospitals - If you have cancer, you are probably scared and want a list of hospitals that might help you. This article will help you find that list of hospitals you need to make the right choices in your care. Cancer of the Small Bowel - Cancer of the small bowel is less common than cancer of the large bowel. 52,000 people die from large bowel cancer per year compared to only about 1100 from cancer of the small bowel. Online Nursing Programs - Learn more about colon cancer in nursing training programs. Causes of Tinnitus - Tinnitus is a side effect of chemotherapy. Other causes of tinnitus are explained here. Help for tinnitus is described here also. Tinnitus in Children - Tinnitus in children is a serious problem. It is the result of platinum based chemotherapy drugs. Help; is on the way with two new drugs being tested. Sounds of Tinnitus - The sounds of tinnitus can vary. The only cure is surgery for a tumor. Other remedies can help you cope with the noise. Pulsatile Tinnitus - Pulsating tinnitus can be caused by high blood pressure, a sinus infection, or a tumor. Remedies include prescription drugs, acoustic therapy and eardrops. Small Bowel Cancer - Small bowel cancer starts in the lining of the small bowel or small intestine. Cells begin to grow out of control and change into a tumor. The tumor may be noncancerous and can cause obstruction of the small bowel or it can be cancerous and... Aspirin and Tinnitus - Take aspirin and tinnitus might follow. There are remedies for tinnitus. You will read about them on this web page. Intestinal Cancer - Intestinal cancer is staged similar to colon cancer with stage I being small, well localized cancer and stage IV being metastatic disease. Doctors can determine the stage of the cancer at the time surgery is performed to remove the tumor and lymph... Back to top	Search CCR This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Free Subscription First Name Email Get the latest news on colon cancer delivered to your inbox each week! 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Colon Cancer Resource

Colon Surgery

Surgery Indicators

Laparoscopic Surgery

Why Colon Surgery?

Recovery

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