| In order to see how to treat colorectal cancer | | | | Surgery for colon cancer refers to removing the |
| doctors must first stage the cancer. This can be | | | | cancerous part of the colon and then reconnecting |
| made after three systems: Dukes, Astler-Coller and | | | | the two ends of the colon. Also, the nearby lymph |
| AJC/TNM. | | | | nodes and a part of the normal tissue will be |
| The classification of cancer after AJC/TNM is: | | | | removed too. Some of the early stages of colon |
| Stage 0: the cancerous tumor affects only the inner | | | | cancer can be resolved during colonoscopy. The |
| layer of the colon or the rectal lining. The indicated | | | | patient will recover after a period of time that varies |
| treatment is surgery, for removing tumors and | | | | with age, general health and the cancer's extension. |
| polyps. No further treatment is necessary. | | | | Surgery for rectal cancer will be made after |
| Stage I: the tumor has spread deeply in the inner line | | | | chemotherapy and radiotherapy if the cancer is in an |
| of the colon or rectum but has not broken through | | | | advanced stage. |
| the colon wall yet. The recommended treatment is | | | | If the cancer is caused by polyps they must be |
| surgery with no other additional treatment after the | | | | removed by a procedure called Polypectomy. A local |
| surgery. | | | | excision can be made in other cases and will remove |
| Stage II: the tumor has broken through the colon wall | | | | superficial cancers from the inner layer of rectum |
| but has not spread to the lymph nodes yet. Surgery | | | | along with some health tissue from nearby. |
| is indicated and chemotherapy or radiotherapy is | | | | Frequently a low anterior resection can be made in |
| needed in some cases. | | | | order to treat colorectal cancers but the tumor must |
| Stage III: the lymph nodes are affected by the | | | | not be situated very close to the anal sphincter. |
| tumor. In colon cancer chemotherapy is needed after | | | | Other solutions are the abdominoperineal resection |
| surgery; in rectum cancer chemotherapy or | | | | and in the most desperate cases when other organs |
| radiotherapy is made before or after the surgery. | | | | are involved the pelvic exenteration will be applied. |
| Stage IV: the cancer has spread and affected other | | | | Going to regularly check-ups and seeing your doctor |
| organs like lungs and liver. In this case chemotherapy | | | | from the first symptoms of colorectal cancer you |
| and radiotherapy will be applied both in order to stop | | | | can treat cancer from its beginnings, avoid |
| the rectum from being blocked. Sometimes surgery | | | | complications during drastic therapy and recover |
| will be needed in order to remove the tumors from | | | | faster from the disease. |
| the other affected organs. | | | | |