Treatment Options

This article provides information about surgical procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.

A colectomy, also referred to as a large bowel resection, is a surgical procedure that is done to remove your colon; a colectomy may remove all or part of the colon.

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that is done to connect the colon to the surface of the abdomen, allowing stool to pass into a collection bag.

An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that is done to bring the end of the small intestine, or ileum, to the surface of the abdomen to allow for stool to pass into an external collection device.

An ostomy is a connection between the bowel and the abdominal wall that re-routes the stool to pass through a stoma. When the connection is to the colon, it is called a colostomy. When the connection is to the small bowel, it is called either an ileostomy or a jejunostomy.

Your pathology report provides important information about your tumor and is something you should keep in your personal files. This article provides an overview of a colon cancer pathology report.

This article provides an overview of tumor markers that may be used in the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers, including CEA.

You would think that deciding whether to have chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvant therapy) in stage II colon cancer would be an easy decision, but in fact, studies have not found a clear answer to this question.