Colon AssessmentsUnderstanding the Importance

As people get older, much emphasis is placed on certain medical assessments in order to stay healthy and active. One of these is testing of the colon. Estimates from the American Cancer Society were that 2016 would see 95,270 diagnoses of colon cancer in addition to 39,220 diagnoses of rectal cancer in the United States. Colorectal cancer, rectal cancer along with cancer of the colon, is statistically named as the third most common cancer in the United States among both men and women.

Pancreatic cancer is estimated to be the eighth most common cancer diagnosis in women, in addition to being the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. The American Cancer Society has determined that the one year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is 20% and the five year survival rate is 6%. This includes any stage of this type of cancer.

Pancreatic surgery can be done in order to remove pancreatic tumors. Tumors located in different sections of the pancreas will require different types of surgery. A procedure called a Whipple operation is performed when the tumor is at the head of the pancreas. For tumors located in the body or the tail of the pancreas, a radical distal pancreatectomy is performed. This surgery involves the removal of the body and tail of the pancreas, as well as the spleen.

There are several types of colon surgery, depending upon the patient’s diagnosis and what needs to be done to correct the malady. A large bowel resection is surgery in which part or all of the large bowel, also called the large intestine or colon, is removed. This type of surgery is also referred to as a colectomy. When both the rectum and the entire colon are removed, it is referred to as a proctocolectomy. There are ways that a person can live after their large intestine, or colon is removed. Most often patients may need to wear a bag on the outside of the body used to collect stool. There is, however, a way that doctors can surgically create a small pouch in the small intestine to take the place of the colon. If this is done, the patient will not need to wear the outside bag.

Another related condition could be chronic liver disease which generally refers to any disease of the liver that has persisted for more than six months. In patients who have been diagnosed with liver cancer, the only options at this point in time are either what is referred to as a liver resection, where just the tumor is removed, or a liver transplant. If every bit of cancer is successfully removed from the liver, the outlook can be very positive. A partial hepatectomy is surgery to remove part of the liver. This is done when there is just one tumor that has not yet entered any of the surrounding blood vessels. When a patient has good liver function and is still healthy enough for surgery, this is an option. The fact is that most liver cancers cannot be completely removed. Many times the cancer has infected too far throughout the liver or has spread outside the liver.

In cases of liver cancer, doctors will perform certain tests, such as an MRI or CT in order to determine whether or not the cancer can be removed. Even so, there are still times when, during the surgery itself, doctors will find that the cancer is too large or has spread too far, and the procedure will be cancelled.

The best prognosis is for people who receive a liver transplant. Statistics show that 75% of people who have a liver transplant will survive for at least five years, sometimes more, after receiving a new liver. Most liver transplants involve the replacement of the whole liver. It is replaced with the liver of someone who has just died. However, there is the possibility of receiving a partial liver from a living donor. The donor is typically a close relative. If this organ is partially removed, it can sometimes recreate some of the function it has lost with time. This procedure, however, as with any surgery, can sometimes present some risks for the donor.