Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer services offered in Houston, TX

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women in the United States when excluding skin cancer. Surgery is one of the primary treatments for colon cancer, and a specialization of Daniel Lee Howell, Jr., MD, FACS and Terah Isaacson, MD, FACS, of Bayou City Surgical Specialists in Houston, Texas. The surgical practice uses the most advanced tools and techniques when treating colon cancer and offers transparent pricing so you know the cost of care before proceeding. Schedule a consultation at Bayou City Surgical Specialists by calling or booking an appointment online today.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon, the last section of your gastrointestinal tract that absorbs fluid and nutrients from waste before it’s eliminated from the body.

Thanks to regular screenings, rates of colon cancer diagnosis are on the decline in older adults. However, rates of diagnosis in younger people are on the rise.

Anyone can develop colon cancer. However, you’re at greater risk if it runs in your family or you have a history of colon polyps or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

You can have colon cancer and not have symptoms, especially during the early stages. Some of the more common symptoms of colon cancer include:

Rectal bleeding
Blood in your stool
Abdominal pain
Change in bowel habits
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss

Colon cancer screenings aim to find tumors during the early stages before you have symptoms when the cancer is easy to treat. Adults should start screenings for colon cancer at age 45 and repeat screenings as recommended by their doctor.

A colonoscopy is the gold standard screening for colon cancer, evaluating the entire colon and looking for polyps and other abnormalities that require further testing like a biopsy.

What treatments do I need for colon cancer?

Surgery is the primary treatment for colon cancer and involves removing the cancerous tissue and some of the surrounding healthy tissue. The type of surgery you need depends on the stage of cancer.

Some of the surgeries for colon cancer include:

Polypectomy

A polypectomy is a surgery that removes polyps from the base of the growth using a special wire loop.

Colectomy

A colectomy is a surgery that removes part or all of the colon. The skilled doctors at Bayou City Surgical Specialists use minimally invasive techniques when possible to reduce surgical scars and postprocedure pain and recovery.

In some cases, surgeons may need to create a new opening for waste following a colectomy called a colostomy. This opening is sometimes temporary, and the surgeons perform a colostomy closure at a later date.

The surgeons conduct a thorough assessment before making any treatment recommendations. Then, they discuss the surgery with you so you know what to expect.

Find out more about colon cancer surgery at Bayou City Surgical Specialists by calling today or requesting an appointment online.