Colorectal Cancer Tampa Florida

Colorectal Cancer

Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many similar features and are often referred to together as “Colorectal cancer.” Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Americans. Most of them form from the glands that produce digestive juices in the colon and they are referred to as adenocarcinomas. There are some other types of tumors which occur but they are beyond the scope of this discussion.

When food is eaten, it passes through the stomach and into the small intestine where it is mixed with digestive enzymes made in the liver and pancreas. Most of the nutrients from our food are absorbed into the blood stream through the walls of the small intestine. Then, the residue passes into the large intestine or colon. In the colon, water is removed and the waste matter is compacted into feces for elimination from the body. The last part of the colon is called the rectum.

Each section of the bowel is composed of layers of absorptive and muscular tissue. Colorectal cancers start in the innermost layer and slowly invade through the bowel wall. From there they can spread to nearby lymph nodes. There, cancer cells multiply and eventually are spread by the blood stream throughout the body.

Colorectal cancer is most often found in patients over the age of 50 and is more common in patients with a family history of colorectal cancer, or a personal history of colon polyps. Patients with certain diseases of the colon such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are at especially high risk. Early detection is important and all adults should undergo colon cancer screening beginning at age 50.

Once a colon cancer has been detected, scans are done to determine the Stage of the disease—that is, how far the cancer has spread. Successful treatment depends upon the stage of the tumor. The three main type of treatment for colorectal cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Depending upon the stage, two or three of these may be used together.

Surgeryis the main treatment for tumors of all parts of the colon. If the tumor is very small and low down in the colon, sometimes it can be removed through a scope. However, most of the time, surgery is done through an incision in the belly. A piece of normal colon on either side of the tumor is removed along with the cancer, and the colon is reconnected if possible. Most patients need a temporary colostomy while the intestine heals, and, in some cases, a permanent colostomy is needed. Click here to Meet our Colorectal Cancer Surgeons
Chemotherapy involves giving anticancer drugs by mouth or into a vein where they can circulate through the body in the blood stream. It can be given before surgery to help shrink large tumors and make them easier to operate upon. Or, chemotherapy can be given after surgery in patients who have a high risk of relapse. It is a very important part of the treatment of patients whose cancers have spread to involve the lymph nodes. Click here to Meet our Medical Oncologists
Radiation is not often used for cancers which are high up in the colon. However, for tumors in the rectum, radiation is very important. Radiation therapy uses strong x-ray beams to kill cancer cells. Generally, this is given daily Monday through Friday for several weeks and must be carefully planned to avoid excessive dose to normal pelvic tissues. Radiation can be given prior to surgery to shrink large cancers, or after surgery if the risk of recurrence in the operative area is high. For selected patients with small rectal cancers, occasionally a combination of chemotherapy and radiation can be used in place of surgery, thus sparing patients a colostomy.

The treatment of colorectal cancer can severely affect body image, especially if a permanent colostomy is required. Be sure you discuss these cancer issues with your physician as part of the decision making process.

Click to Meet our Colorectal Cancer Surgeons

Oncology Questions? Email Us! O ncores@netzero.net | Click Here to Schedule an appointment

Call the Cancer Help Line! 813-870-4123

Home

Site Map