The part of the digestive system that comes after the small intestines is about 1.5 – 2 meters in length, the colon, that is, the large intestine, the last 15-20 cm of it is called the rectum.
Colorectal cancer develops here in one out of every 50 people during their lifetime.
The most important symptoms are;
- Changes in defecation habits
- Blood in stool
- Stool thinning like a pencil
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Excessive fatigue.
What is Colon Cancer?
Surgical treatment constitutes the main step in the treatment of cancer. But for this, it is necessary to observe whether the cancer has spread to distant organs (liver, lung, brain, bone, etc.).
In the surgical method, the tumorous part is removed together with the surrounding intact tissue. In addition, the tissue and lymph nodes connecting the intestine to the body, called the mesentery, are also removed. In rectal cancers, the tumor is removed with a part of the left side of the large intestine and the two ends are joined together. In cases where fusion is not possible, the surgeon mouths the end of the healthy intestine to the abdominal wall and closes the other end. This is called a colostomy.
Stool is taken out through special colostomy bags. In most patients, this situation is temporary, after surgery, the colon or rectum is closed when the healing is completed. Colostomy may be permanent in patients with tumors in the lower rectum regions very close to the anus.
In recent years, especially in cases of intestinal tumors that spread to the liver and lungs, surgical treatment is now applied in cases where the tumor in that area is completely removed, and the results are pleasing for the patient.
