What if something is found during colorectal screening?
If a polyp or suspicious-looking growth is found at the time of
your colon examination, the doctor will take a biopsy.
This is sent to the laboratory where it will be examined under the
microscope to see if any cancer is present. If no cancer is present,
you will be asked to have another examination in a year or so, depending
on the number and size of the polyps.
If cancer is found, then it will be treated using the following
methods:
Surgery: The best treatment for colon cancer is to remove
the entire colon, leaving the rectum intact. By removing the entire
colon, the risk of getting a second colon cancer later on in life
is greatly reduced. The main side effect of this type of surgery
is that people may have an increased number of bowel movements (usually
2-4 per day), but they remain able to control their bowel movements.
A colostomy
(an artificial opening in the abdomen to eliminate waste) is ONLY
done if the cancer is very low in the rectum and the entire area
has to be removed.
Chemotherapy: Depending on the stage of the cancer, some
people will be advised to undergo chemotherapy. This is the injection
of drugs, or the taking of drugs in pill form, that are designed
to attack cancer cells in the body.
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