Diagnosis and Treatment of Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is found in the large bowel of the human body and depending on where it is exactly located, it could either be colon or rectal cancer.
The content has been reviewed for quality and accuracy to the best of our knowledge by Qunomedical and its Medical Board of Experts.
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“Qunomedical helped me so much! Thank you!“
Diagnosis and Treatment of Bowel Cancer Quick Details
WHO IS THIS FOR
Patients who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
PROGNOSIS
The 5 year survival rate for colon cancer varies from 12-92% depending on the cancer stage and from 13-88% for rectal cancer.
TREATMENT DURATION
The time of the surgery will vary depending on the type of surgery you are getting, the method used and related factors. On average the surgery should last anywhere from 1-2 hours.
Chemotherapy is done in cycles, where you receive medication over the course of a few days and then let your body rest and recover. The duration of a cycle and the number of cycles you have to undergo depends on the medication you are receiving, the type of cancer you have, and the stage of cancer you are in. General factors such as your current age, health status and medical history also play a role.
Radiotherapy sessions last for a for a couple of minutes and are carried out 5 days a week, for a few weeks. The total duration depends again on the cancer type and stage and other personal factors.
POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS
The general as well as the specific risks associated with Bowel cancer surgery are bleeding, infection, pain, blood clots, erectile dysfunction, leakage of bowel, urination problems.
Radiotherapy side effects include: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, changes in skin, erectile dysfunction, infertility, changes in urination frequency.
Complications of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores.
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