Saturday, February 25, 2012

Colon Cancer Survival Rate - Are You A Survivor

The colon cancer survival rate of a patient may be determined by the type of treatment plan he/she is using. Knowing that colon cancer has about an asymptomatic stage followed by 4 disease stages, we should also know that not all colorectal cancers are detected at the earliest stages. In actuality, the truth behind most cancers is that they are only diagnosed once the symptoms become severe to the point that it has affected the daily livings of the patients. Like what is commonly said-cancer is a traitor disease: it strikes when u least expected it and only makes itself known when you have started experiencing all its crazy bout of symptoms. In most cases, the average detection point of colon cancer is when most of the painful symptoms are experienced because this is the time when patients seek medical advice and check up to diagnose the disease. Usually, people get help when the cancer is at the 2nd to 3rd stages.

Since this article will tackle about the colon cancer survival rate with the treatment plan as the determinant variable, we will base our colon cancer survival rate from the stages where most patients ask for help - stages 2 and 3. This is also the time when these is a boost of treatments available to try combating the proliferation of cancer.

Colostomy
The most common treatment advised once the cancer has grown enough to appear on medical laboratory tests and confirm diagnosis is to subject the patient to a colostomy or colon surgery. Surgery is considered a crucial part in increasing your colon cancer survival rate. Since the cancer has not yet infected bigger parts of the colon (or parts beyond the colon) at this time, your five-year colon cancer survival rate is around 70-90%. Patients who were able to survive the surgery and began to display acceptance of the post-operative consequences showed a higher and long-term prognosis after surgery. There is also a number of cases where patients were able to return to their normal lifestyle and survive the cancer. However, there is one major downside of this treatment. Since colostomy means your solid intestinal waste will be excreted from no longer out of your anus but will be out of a surgically made hole on your stomach, it can be extremely inconvenient for many patients. Bowel excretion through your stomach is going to be forever, hence, lifetime maintenance is also needed. For many colon cancer sufferers, the consequences of the surgery seem to be more dreadful than the disease itself, therefore a lot of patients would never dare try the surgery.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the next treatment of choice for colon cancer (and probably as well as for most cancers). It is done by the use of medications to destroy or stop the proliferation of the cancer cells in hopes of prolonging your life. Often, after surgery, a patient may also be subjected to a series of chemotherapy to kill the remaining microscopic cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that with the surgery and chemotherapy combined, there is delay of tumor recurrence therefore increasing your colon cancer survival rate as well (average percentage is around 90%). The effect may not be as substantial if the patient will only rely on chemotherapeutic drugs (average percentage of 60-80%).

Radiation Therapy
Updates have been made in the treatment of colorectal cancer and radiation therapy is now limited to patients whose origin of cancer has started at the rectal part of the colon. Without radiation, there is about 50% risk percentage for patients with rectal cancer, making your colon cancer survival rate a dire 50% as well. Risk is then lowered for 7-10% for patients who had surgery and undergone radiation therapy as well.

Colon Cancer Survival Rate - Are You A Survivor

The colon cancer survival rate of a patient may be determined by the type of treatment plan he/she is using. Knowing that colon cancer has about an asymptomatic stage followed by 4 disease stages, we should also know that not all colorectal cancers are detected at the earliest stages. In actuality, the truth behind most cancers is that they are only diagnosed once the symptoms become severe to the point that it has affected the daily livings of the patients. Like what is commonly said-cancer is a traitor disease: it strikes when u least expected it and only makes itself known when you have started experiencing all its crazy bout of symptoms. In most cases, the average detection point of colon cancer is when most of the painful symptoms are experienced because this is the time when patients seek medical advice and check up to diagnose the disease. Usually, people get help when the cancer is at the 2nd to 3rd stages.

Since this article will tackle about the colon cancer survival rate with the treatment plan as the determinant variable, we will base our colon cancer survival rate from the stages where most patients ask for help - stages 2 and 3. This is also the time when these is a boost of treatments available to try combating the proliferation of cancer.

Colostomy
The most common treatment advised once the cancer has grown enough to appear on medical laboratory tests and confirm diagnosis is to subject the patient to a colostomy or colon surgery. Surgery is considered a crucial part in increasing your colon cancer survival rate. Since the cancer has not yet infected bigger parts of the colon (or parts beyond the colon) at this time, your five-year colon cancer survival rate is around 70-90%. Patients who were able to survive the surgery and began to display acceptance of the post-operative consequences showed a higher and long-term prognosis after surgery. There is also a number of cases where patients were able to return to their normal lifestyle and survive the cancer. However, there is one major downside of this treatment. Since colostomy means your solid intestinal waste will be excreted from no longer out of your anus but will be out of a surgically made hole on your stomach, it can be extremely inconvenient for many patients. Bowel excretion through your stomach is going to be forever, hence, lifetime maintenance is also needed. For many colon cancer sufferers, the consequences of the surgery seem to be more dreadful than the disease itself, therefore a lot of patients would never dare try the surgery.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the next treatment of choice for colon cancer (and probably as well as for most cancers). It is done by the use of medications to destroy or stop the proliferation of the cancer cells in hopes of prolonging your life. Often, after surgery, a patient may also be subjected to a series of chemotherapy to kill the remaining microscopic cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that with the surgery and chemotherapy combined, there is delay of tumor recurrence therefore increasing your colon cancer survival rate as well (average percentage is around 90%). The effect may not be as substantial if the patient will only rely on chemotherapeutic drugs (average percentage of 60-80%).

Radiation Therapy
Updates have been made in the treatment of colorectal cancer and radiation therapy is now limited to patients whose origin of cancer has started at the rectal part of the colon. Without radiation, there is about 50% risk percentage for patients with rectal cancer, making your colon cancer survival rate a dire 50% as well. Risk is then lowered for 7-10% for patients who had surgery and undergone radiation therapy as well.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Colon Cancer Survival Rate

The survival rate of any form of cancer depends on how early it is detected and in what stage it is detected. This includes colon cancer. Medical professionals cannot stress enough the importance that early detection plays in the treatment and curability of colon cancer, or any other form of cancer.

The earlier you can detect this disease, the better the prognosis will be. Colon cancer is highly treatable and curable if found in the earlier stages. If you suspect that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease, you need to contact your physician immediately to schedule an appointment.

If you are in any of the risk categories for developing colon cancer and have never received an exam, you need to contact your physician immediately even if you are not experiencing any of the signs or symptoms. This is considered to be a preventative measure.

It All Depends On the Stages
The survival rate of colon cancer patients depends on what stage the cancer is in. Stage 0 and Stage 1 have the highest survival rate because they are the earlier stages and can easily be treated. The prognosis for these stages is above 90% for a five-year survival rate. In these stages, the cancer is caught in the exact place where it has started (Stage 0) or it is only affecting several layers of the colon wall (Stage I).

Stage II colon cancer still has a 50% to 85% chance of a five-year survival rate. In this stage, the cancer is usually now affecting the muscular layer of the colon wall or (depending upon the stage rating system used) could possibly be affecting less than three lymph nodes that lie near the outside of the colon.

Stage III of this cancer has anywhere from a 20% to 50% chance of a five-year survival rate. This stage of cancer, by the TNM staging system, has spread through the colon wall and is now affecting nearby lymph nodes and organs. By the new staging system, the cancer is affecting more than four lymph nodes. The way the disease spreads makes treatment harder and therefore reduces the survival rate.

Stage IV colon cancer is the latest stage, no matter what system of staging is being used. In this stage, the cancer has usually spread to other locations in the body. These usually include the liver and the lungs. At this level, there is usually less than a 10% chance of a five-year survival rate; however, because patients are different and cancer is different in each patient, some studies show that depending upon the masses and the areas that are infected, some patients can have anywhere from a 20% to 30% chance of a five-year survival rate.

You can now see why early detection is so important. Contact your physician if you feel that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease or if you fall into any of the risk categories. It is best if you schedule a regular exam to help your chances of early detection.

Colon Cancer Survival Rate

The survival rate of any form of cancer depends on how early it is detected and in what stage it is detected. This includes colon cancer. Medical professionals cannot stress enough the importance that early detection plays in the treatment and curability of colon cancer, or any other form of cancer.

The earlier you can detect this disease, the better the prognosis will be. Colon cancer is highly treatable and curable if found in the earlier stages. If you suspect that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease, you need to contact your physician immediately to schedule an appointment.

If you are in any of the risk categories for developing colon cancer and have never received an exam, you need to contact your physician immediately even if you are not experiencing any of the signs or symptoms. This is considered to be a preventative measure.

It All Depends On the Stages
The survival rate of colon cancer patients depends on what stage the cancer is in. Stage 0 and Stage 1 have the highest survival rate because they are the earlier stages and can easily be treated. The prognosis for these stages is above 90% for a five-year survival rate. In these stages, the cancer is caught in the exact place where it has started (Stage 0) or it is only affecting several layers of the colon wall (Stage I).

Stage II colon cancer still has a 50% to 85% chance of a five-year survival rate. In this stage, the cancer is usually now affecting the muscular layer of the colon wall or (depending upon the stage rating system used) could possibly be affecting less than three lymph nodes that lie near the outside of the colon.

Stage III of this cancer has anywhere from a 20% to 50% chance of a five-year survival rate. This stage of cancer, by the TNM staging system, has spread through the colon wall and is now affecting nearby lymph nodes and organs. By the new staging system, the cancer is affecting more than four lymph nodes. The way the disease spreads makes treatment harder and therefore reduces the survival rate.

Stage IV colon cancer is the latest stage, no matter what system of staging is being used. In this stage, the cancer has usually spread to other locations in the body. These usually include the liver and the lungs. At this level, there is usually less than a 10% chance of a five-year survival rate; however, because patients are different and cancer is different in each patient, some studies show that depending upon the masses and the areas that are infected, some patients can have anywhere from a 20% to 30% chance of a five-year survival rate.

You can now see why early detection is so important. Contact your physician if you feel that you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of this disease or if you fall into any of the risk categories. It is best if you schedule a regular exam to help your chances of early detection.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Colon Cancer Surgery in India - Best Option for Abroad

Colon Cancer Surgery in India - Best Option for Abroad Patients

Colon Cancer Surgery India at the best hospitals is being offered to the patients all across the world. Patients are provided with the facilities of being operated and treated by top senior cancer surgeons of India having plenty of experience and a successful profile for performing numerous numbers of successful surgeries. These facilities are being provided in all the major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc with all medically modern healthcare facilities. Colon cancer surgery in India is the best option for abroad patients who are looking for colon cancer surgery.

What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is a common type of malignancy (cancer) in which there is uncontrolled growth of the cells that line the inside of the colon or rectum. Colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer. There are three ways that cancer can spread in the body;

Through tissue. Cancer
Through the lymph system
Through the blood


Symptoms of Colon Cancer
There are a variety of known symptoms of colon cancer including abdominal pain,

Bleeding from the rectum
Blood in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement
Change in shape of the stool (i.e. thinning)
Cramping pain in the abdomen
Unusual Bowel movement tendency However, the symptoms vary from case to case and some cases do not cause any symptoms at all.

Colon Cancer Diagnosis
A Colon cancer can be confirmed from the following tests:

Colonoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Colon biopsy
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
Colon function tests
CT , MRI or PET scans of the abdomen, pelvic area

Colon Cancer Surgery in India

Partial Colectomy - As the name suggests, this is when the surgeon removes only part of the colon. The remaining parts will be joined together. If you have a partial colectomy, then your bowel habits should go back to being pretty much the way they were before you had the cancer.
Right Colectomy or Ileocolectomy - During a right colectomy, the right side of the colon is removed. During an ileocolectomy, the last segment of the small intestine that's attached to the right side of the colon, called the ileum, is also removed.
Abdominoperineal resection - This is an operation in which the anus, rectum and sigmoid colon are removed.
Proctosigmoidectomy - In this operation, the diseased section of the rectum and sigmoid colon is removed.
Total Abdominal Colectomy - A total abdominal colectomy is an operation that removes the entire colon but preserves the rectum and anus.
Total Proctocolectomy - This is the most extensive bowel operation performed and involves the removal of both the rectum and the colon.

About Authour : forerunnershealthcare is content writer for the forerunnershealthcare.com; Visit the site for more information about Colon Cancer Surgery in India.

Colon Cancer Surgery in India - Best Option for Abroad

Colon Cancer Surgery in India - Best Option for Abroad Patients

Colon Cancer Surgery India at the best hospitals is being offered to the patients all across the world. Patients are provided with the facilities of being operated and treated by top senior cancer surgeons of India having plenty of experience and a successful profile for performing numerous numbers of successful surgeries. These facilities are being provided in all the major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc with all medically modern healthcare facilities. Colon cancer surgery in India is the best option for abroad patients who are looking for colon cancer surgery.

What is Colon Cancer?
Colon cancer is a common type of malignancy (cancer) in which there is uncontrolled growth of the cells that line the inside of the colon or rectum. Colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer. There are three ways that cancer can spread in the body;

Through tissue. Cancer
Through the lymph system
Through the blood


Symptoms of Colon Cancer
There are a variety of known symptoms of colon cancer including abdominal pain,

Bleeding from the rectum
Blood in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement
Change in shape of the stool (i.e. thinning)
Cramping pain in the abdomen
Unusual Bowel movement tendency However, the symptoms vary from case to case and some cases do not cause any symptoms at all.

Colon Cancer Diagnosis
A Colon cancer can be confirmed from the following tests:

Colonoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Colon biopsy
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
Colon function tests
CT , MRI or PET scans of the abdomen, pelvic area

Colon Cancer Surgery in India

Partial Colectomy - As the name suggests, this is when the surgeon removes only part of the colon. The remaining parts will be joined together. If you have a partial colectomy, then your bowel habits should go back to being pretty much the way they were before you had the cancer.
Right Colectomy or Ileocolectomy - During a right colectomy, the right side of the colon is removed. During an ileocolectomy, the last segment of the small intestine that's attached to the right side of the colon, called the ileum, is also removed.
Abdominoperineal resection - This is an operation in which the anus, rectum and sigmoid colon are removed.
Proctosigmoidectomy - In this operation, the diseased section of the rectum and sigmoid colon is removed.
Total Abdominal Colectomy - A total abdominal colectomy is an operation that removes the entire colon but preserves the rectum and anus.
Total Proctocolectomy - This is the most extensive bowel operation performed and involves the removal of both the rectum and the colon.

About Authour : forerunnershealthcare is content writer for the forerunnershealthcare.com; Visit the site for more information about Colon Cancer Surgery in India.