Battling Colorectal Cancer with Surgery

Colorectal cancers are the second-leading cancer killer in the United States, and they're on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 139,127 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2006. The same year, 53,196 people died of the disease.

Colorectal cancer is any cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum, which are both part of the body's intestinal tract. The colon is the large part of the intestine, while the rectum is the last six inches.

When colon cancer spreads beyond the polyp stage, surgery is the most common first treatment. Fortunately, for most patients, laparoscopic surgery, which uses small incisions, is a surgical option.

"More than 90 percent of colon cancer patients are candidates for laparoscopy," says Fort Sanders Regional surgical oncologist Dr. Greg Midis. "But, it is critical that patients seek out a surgeon who does laparoscopy for colon surgery regularly."

The incisions made for laparoscopic surgeries are typically just one-fourth or one-third of the length of what surgeons call "open" surgery. That can result in quicker healing and often as much as a 50 percent shorter hospital stay, explains Midis.

If cancer is in the rectum, however, open surgery is the most common approach, Midis adds. This surgery is more technical, and laparoscopy is still under investigation for these procedures.

"The best way to avoid a big or little surgery is to get your colonoscopy," advises Midis. "And then you won't need it." A colonoscopy test is a key to catching colorectal cancer and other intestinal problems early.

During a colonoscopy, a colonoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted in the rectum and colon. The colonoscope also has a tool to remove polyps and take tissue samples that can be checked for cancer. Because the colonoscope can remove a polyp during the test, it can often prevent the need for more extensive surgery later.