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What happens after surgery for colon cancer?
What happens after surgery for colon cancer?
by Jonathan S. Feinberg
Personalized care for colon cancer doesn’t end with surgery. Patients who have undergone surgical resection for Stage 1-3 colon cancer are referred to Monisha Singh, MD, Instructor in Medicine and Medical Oncologist, and her colleagues in the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center. There, patients and doctors discuss the need for further treatment—typically chemotherapy—which will depend on tumor size, lymph node involvement, and other pathological and clinical features.
Patients with Stage 1 cancer, which is isolated to the colon, have an excellent prognosis after surgery, with a greater than 90% chance of remaining in remission. These patients will undergo surveillance, with no further treatment needed.
Monisha Singh, MD
Patients with Stage 3 cancer, with confirmed lymph node involvement, on the other hand, are recommended for adjuvant chemotherapy for 3-6 months, depending on the extent of the lymph node involvement. These patients have a 30-50% risk of recurrence after surgery, but chemotherapy can reduce that risk by half. The situation is more complicated, however, for patients with Stage 2 cancer that has spread beyond the primary tumor, but not to the lymph nodes.
Dr. Singh explains that 80% of patients with Stage 2 colon cancer will be cured by surgery and don’t require additional treatment, but the remaining 20% are at risk for recurrence and would benefit from chemotherapy. Currently, patients at high risk of recurrence are identified by assessing the levels of tumor cell DNA circulating in their bloodstream, along with clinical and pathological factors. Overall, Dr. Singh stresses the importance of routine screening for colon cancer, as early detection yields a more favorable prognosis, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “Limiting your intake of red meat and processed foods,” Dr. Singh says, “and getting regular cardiovascular exercise will help reduce your overall cancer incidence.”