COLORECTAL CANCER

cik_bedah

Tolong bagi sesiapa yang ada info & pengalaman ttg this type of cancer.. lama tak nak baik? and apa treatment yg diberi selepas operate... pls advise thanks

blackmore

Originally posted by cik_bedah at 10-3-2007 15:42
Tolong bagi sesiapa yang ada info & pengalaman ttg this type of cancer.. lama tak nak baik? and apa treatment yg diberi selepas operate... pls advise thanks

...colorectal cancer or colon cancer adalah barah usus besar...

...to noe more about this type of cancer...u need first of all to understand and appreciate the anatomy of your intestines and its structures....

...ok...this is how our intestines looks like...it is made up of the colon or large intestine...the small intestines....and the rectum...







...the large intestine or the colon is part of the digestive system. ...it runs from the small intestine to the rectum....it is made up of three portions: the ascending...transverse and descending colon....

...the ascending colon is sometimes referred to as the right colon...the descending colon is sometimes referred to as the left or sigmoid colon...

...it is the portion of the digestive system most responsible for absorption of water from the indigestible residue of food....the ileocecal valve of the ileum (small intestine) passes material into the large intestine at the cecum....material passes through the ascending...transverse...descending and sigmoid portions of the colon and finally into the rectum....from the rectum the waste is expelled from the body....











...closer look...it is a long hollow organ lined with mucous membrane (mucosa)....muscle layers wrap around the entire length and help move food material through to the rectum....











...colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States....the exact cause of this type of cancer is still unknown...but...risk factors include:

...a diet low in fiber and high in fat
...certain types of colonic polyps
...inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
...and certain hereditary disorders...family history of a first-degree relatives (parents/siblings/children) of a person who has had colon cancer are somewhat more likely to develop this type of cancer themselves...especially if the relative had the cancer at a young age....if many family members have had colon cancer...the chances increase even more....


Recognizing Colon Cancer Symptoms

...common signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:

• A change in bowel habits
• Diarrhea...constipation...or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
• Stools that are narrower than usual
• General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains...bloating... fullness... and/or cramps)
• Weight loss with no known reason
• Constant tiredness
• Vomiting

...most often these symptoms are not due to colon cancer...other health problems can cause the same colon cancer symptoms....anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible....usually early colon cancer does not cause pain....that is why it is important to know the possible signs and symptoms of colon cancer....it is important not to wait to feel pain before seeing a doctor.....


...to help find the cause of symptoms the doctor evaluates a person's medical history....and will also performs a physical exam and may order one or more diagnostic tests such as...

A sigmoidoscopy lets the doctor see inside the rectum and the lower colon and remove polyps or other abnormal tissue for examination under a microscope...
A colonoscopy lets the doctor see inside the rectum and the entire colon and remove polyps or other abnormal tissue for examination under a microscope...
A polypectomy is the removal of a polyp during a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy...
A biopsy is the removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope by a pathologist to make a diagnosis...







...so...when polyps are discovered in a sigmoidoscopy (an inspection of the lower third of the large intestine) they are retrieved to be tested for cancer... ...if a large amount of polyps are found... a more thorough examination of the entire length of the large intestine (a colonoscopy) may be recommended...










...the staging of a carcinoma has to do with the size of the tumor and the degree to which it has penetrated....when the tumor is small and has not penetrated the mucosal layer it is said to be stage I cancer....Stage II tumors are into the muscle wall and stage III involves nearby lymph nodes...the rare stage IV cancer has spread (metastasized) to remote organs...







...another illustrated picture...








...surgery is the main treatment for colon cancer and removal of the involved colon is required....if the cancer is located near the rectum a colostomy may be necessary....

...for stage I and II colon cancer surgery is usually the only treatment....

...for stage III or IV colon cancer chemotherapy is necessary after surgery....there is also some suggestion that chemotherapy may also be helpful in some selected stage II patients....chemotherapy involves a course of drugs which are toxic to cancer cells...






...surgical removal of the diseased portion of the colon is also called as a bowel resection....







...the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia)...a lower midline incision is made in the abdomen....







...the surgeon then remove the tumor and part of the healthy colon or rectum....some nearby lymph nodes also may be removed....an intraperitoneal survey will be done....this means that the surgeon checks the rest of the intestine...your peritoneal area and the liver to see if the cancer has spread....

...the diseased part of the large intestine (colon) is removed....when a section of the colon is removed  the surgeon can usually reconnect the healthy parts....however...sometimes reconnection is not possible....in this case the surgeon creates a new path for waste to leave the body....an opening (a stoma) in the wall of the abdomen is created....this connects the upper end of the intestine to the stoma and closes the other end....this procedure is called a colostomy....

...for most people who have a colostomy it is temporary....it is needed only until the colon or rectum heals from surgery....after healing takes place the surgeon reconnects the parts of the intestine and closes the stoma....some people especially those with a tumor in the lower rectum need a permanent colostomy.....



...a stapling procedure is shown here...


...finally...end of surgery and the abdomen is closed....








...a picture of before and after bowel resection...




...post operatively...patients will be on a drip for a few days becos during the first few days they will be on nil orally...for the first few days post op...they will also have a nasogastric tube which may either be left on passive drainage or on an intermittent suction motor...depending on surgeon orders...

...feeds and soft diet will be initiated once bowel sounds is active...most patients will stay in hospital for about a week...complete recovery from surgery may take 2 months....


...follow up treatment is very important...if the patient has a colostomy...then he must noe how to care for it...patient also need to be educated on changes in dietary habits and on lifestyles issues...regular follow up will also ensure that changes in health is noticed so that early intervention can be initiated...so...regular check up would also mean that it may include a physical examination...a colonoscopy...blood tests...stool tests...and x-rays

...living with cancer is not easy...to most...having cancer is the same as being given the death penalty...fear of tumor recurrence...prognosis and how much time they have is something that will constantly be on their minds...worries about their families...financial matters...changes in their lifestyles and self image and sexual issues are some of the things yang they have to deal with...

...so...support system from family and frens are very2 important...a combined effort from their love ones is needed to help them to go thru this devastating period of their life...

...grieving process is something yang most of the patients will go thru....feeling angry...shock...denial...depression is something that is very2 real and expected...most patients will experience a mixture of all these feelings before they finally come to acceptance of the disease...


...*phewww!!*...i hope sedikit sebanyak apa yang aku tepekkan nie  has made u understand more about this disease...



...references:

>>>Sini<<<

>>>Sini<<<




[ Last edited by  blackmore at 11-3-2007 07:44 AM ]

cik_bedah

thanks blackmore.. i just read it from the other topic.. thanks for sharing the info with me

ijanaico

Originally posted by cik_bedah at 10-3-2007 03:42 PM
Tolong bagi sesiapa yang ada info & pengalaman ttg this type of cancer.. lama tak nak baik? and apa treatment yg diberi selepas operate... pls advise thanks

u kene cancer colon ke?? boleh sy jumpa?? sy benar2 ingin membantu...

~aku edit sikit...no personal advert please..~




[ Last edited by  blackmore at 5-5-2007 08:52 AM ]