Colon Cancer
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Ravikumar Brahmbhatt, MD, FACS
General Surgery and Advanced Robotic Surgery & General Surgery located in Edison, NJ & Jersey City, NJ
Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But due to early screenings and removal, colon-cancer deaths are on the decline. Ravikumar Brahmbhatt, MD, FACS at RR Surgical Associates, with offices in Edison and Jersey City, New Jersey, is a surgical expert who specializes in surgeries of the colon, including removal of colon cancer. Call the office or book a consultation online.
Colon Cancer Q & A
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is cancer that’s found in your large intestines. It usually begins with the development of noncancerous polyps, or growths, in the lining of your large intestines that can over time develop into cancer.
You are at greater risk of developing colon cancer if you have a family history, you eat a diet low in fiber, or you have a history of polyps.
Does colon cancer cause symptoms?
You don’t always experience symptoms with colon cancer, which is why colonoscopies have become a regular part of the wellness screening for adults 50 and older or if you’re of African American descent and 45 or older.
Symptoms that could indicate colon cancer include:
- Change in bowel habits
- Abdominal discomfort
- Feeling like you can’t completely empty your bowel
- Blood in your stool
- Feeling weak or fatigued
- Unexplained weight loss
Symptoms vary in severity depending on the size of the tumor.
How is colon cancer treated?
Surgery is required for colon cancer. However, the type of surgery you need depends on the stage of your cancer.
Early Stage
If your cancer is in the early stages, Dr. Brahmbhatt can remove the tumor using a minimally invasive procedure. If the polyp is large, Dr. Brahmbhatt might need to remove some of the mucosa – the lining of the colon – in addition to the tumor.
Invasive Colon Cancer
If the cancer has invaded parts of your colon, Dr. Brahmbhatt will perform a partial colectomy, which is a removal of part of your colon. Lymph nodes may also be removed during this procedure to test for cancer.
Advanced Colon Cancer
In advanced stages of colon cancer, surgery can be performed to relieve discomfort or blockage, but it isn’t meant to cure the disease.
After surgical removal of your colon cancer, you will also need chemotherapy, radiation, and/or targeted drug therapy.
What are other common surgeries of the colon?
Dr. Brahmbhatt is a general surgeon who can also treat other conditions that affect the colon, including diverticulosis, which is the development of small pouches in your colon. Sometimes these pouches get infected and cause diverticulitis, which can also require surgery.
If you have chronic constipation, surgery can be used to remove the blockage or fix the structural issue, such as an anal fissure, that can cause the constipation.
For surgical management of your colon cancer, call RR Surgical Associates, or book an appointment online today.
