Colonoscopy and Surgery
Local Excision or Polypectomy
Surgical resection is the mainstay of curative treatment for small, early-stage colon and rectal tumors. Precancerous growths called polyps can often be removed during a colonoscopy. The doctor threads a colonoscope — a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera at the end — through the anus. Tools are inserted through the colonoscope to remove the polyp.
Colectomy or Proctectomy
For a tumor that is large or has grown deeper into your tissue, the surgeon may remove a portion of your colon or rectum, along with a small margin of healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes.
The healthy ends of the colon or rectum are then reattached if possible.
A colectomy or proctectomy can be performed through an open technique, meaning the surgeon cuts through your abdomen. But it’s often possible to use a less-invasive technique called laparoscopy, in which the surgeon makes several small incisions — one for a laparoscope (a camera similar to a colonoscope) and others for long, thin surgical instruments.
Ablation
Surgery Risks
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Injury to nearby organs
- Scar tissue formation
