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Transcript
Narrator:
Surgical care for patients with colon cancer has advanced significantly in recent years, allowing access to less invasive procedures and personalized treatment plans.
For patients with very early colon cancers, abnormal tissue may be removed without traditional surgery. If the cancer has grown deeper into the wall of the colon or spread to nearby lymph nodes, surgical treatment options are often recommended.
Many patients may be candidates for “minimally invasive surgery.” In this approach, surgeons perform the operation through several small incisions.
One type of minimally invasive surgery is called laparoscopic surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera through one of the small incisions, providing a magnified view of the surgical area on a monitor. This allows the surgeon to carefully remove the cancer using long, specialized instruments.
Another option is robotic-assisted surgery, when the surgeon controls robotic instruments from a nearby console. With every movement being directed by the surgeon, the technology allows for a greater range of motion and precision to remove the cancer.
Compared with open surgery, these less invasive approaches may offer benefits such as:
- Smaller incisions
- Less pain after surgery
- Reduced blood loss
- Shorter hospital stays
- And, faster recovery time
Minimally invasive surgery isn’t the right choice for everyone. Talk to your doctor about which approach is best for you. Consider asking:
- What type of surgery do you recommend, and why?
- What are the risks and potential complications?
- Will I need other treatments before or after surgery?
- And, what follow-up care and surveillance will I need after treatment?
Remember, every person’s colon cancer is unique. Your surgical treatment plan should be tailored to your individual needs and goals. Visit powerfulpatients.org to learn more.