Posted on 22nd September, 2023 at 7:48:24 AM
When your doctor informs you that you have colon cancer that has spread to other areas of your body, you will understandably be filled with concerns about what this means for your future. We all are different. Even if the condition is incurable, there are different treatment options that will help increase your lifespan and live life with less pain, improving the quality of life. Therefore, getting treated from Dr. Sanjoy Mandal (an experienced GI oncosurgeon in Kolkata) who specialises in treating stage IV colon cancer is a good idea.
Treatment of Colon Cancer
The following standard treatment modalities are used for patients with colon cancer:
Surgery (involves local excision or partial colectomy followed by anastomosis)
Sometimes, the gastrointestinal surgeon in Kolkata would recommend a combination of these different types of treatments. You may need to undergo another treatment procedure if one doesn’t work or stops working.
Follow-Up Care
After the treatment, you’ll have follow-up appointments with your doctor every few months. One reason to see the colorectal cancer doctor is to address any treatment-related side effects.
Your doctor will also conduct checks to ensure that your cancer has not returned. Cancer that comes back is referred to as a recurrence. The first five years after treatment are when colon cancer is most likely to recur. If your cancer recurs, seeing your doctor on a regular basis will aid in detecting it early, when it is much easier to treat. Inquire with your doctor about the signs and symptoms of a recurrence.
Tips for Staying Healthy During Recovery
For the best possible outcome after undergoing colon cancer treatment in Kolkata, the oncosurgeon usually recommends the following:
There’s more to the medical treatment than cancer-targeting medications or surgery. Your colon cancer surgery doctor in Kolkata can also assist you in coping with any discomfort or trauma you are experiencing as a result of cancer. When you cope with such a serious health condition, your social, mental, and spiritual well-being also needs support.
Palliative care takes care of all of these things, and it isn’t just about people who are dying. You’ll have to get all of the other medical treatment in order to battle cancer. As you progress through the illness, the doctor, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists will be your valuable resource.
The Bottom Line
If one of your concerns is about your cancer’s survival rates, you’ll want to get some perspective first. The numbers alone may not tell the whole story. The survival rates are broad but not overly specific. The 5-year survival rate for advanced (stage 4) colon cancer is about 14 percent. It means that about 14% of people diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer are expected to live for another 5 years.
Your prognosis is determined by a variety of factors, including your age, fitness, the extent to which cancer has spread, and the type of care you receive.
