Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancers seen. It is also referred to as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In dogs, many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. Like any other cancer, this one can “metastasize”, which means it can spread and affect other organs and tissues.
Most dogs get a type of Lymphosarcoma that originates the lymph nodes and usually the nodes under the jaw get swollen. Sometimes this is the only symptom your dog will have. But the jaw is not the only place where this disease can begin. Some forms of Lymphosarcoma begin in the bone marrow, the chest, abdomen, or even the skin.
DIAGNOSIS
It is difficult to detect the Lymphosarcoma because it can spread to many places in the body. So full analysis is essential to determine this disease and also establish the stage of disease. It is very important to determine the stage of the disease and decide the kind of treatment and the right dosage. Vets usually do the following tests in order to detect the stages:
* Cytology – checking the lymph node cells
* Blood work
* Abdominal radiographs
* Abdominal ultrasound
* Bone marrow analysis
Most of the times, the vets do just a few of the tests listed above. Even a few of the tests alone can determine the stage and if the dog can be submitted to the treatment.
DISEASE STAGES OF EVOLUTION
Lymphosarcoma has 4 stages.
In state I the cancer exists in just one lymph node. This stage is rarely diagnosed in pets.
In stage II the disease has spread to more than one node and has occupied a body region.
In stage III the cancer is in the nodes but has spread in the body.
In stage IV the Lymphosarcoma has reached the liver or the spleen.
There is also a stage V and it refers to all the stages above but with cancer spread to the bone marrow or the blood or any other organ.
The main stages have sub stages: “A” and “B”.
“A” means the patient doesn’t have the illness. “B” means the patient displays clinical symptoms like fluid in the lungs, vomiting or diarrhea.
Stage IIIA is the earliest detected and it can be treated.
MEANS OF TREATMENT
Many people have heard of chemotherapy. This means treatment with chemicals. The dog anti-cancer drugs, orally, intravenously, or subcutaneously. The good fact is that animals have a high tolerance to anti-cancer drugs, far better than humans. Also, side effects because of the treatment appear only in 5 cases out of 100.
Some of the most common questions a dog owner has are:
Is the dog going to lose the hair? Usually, they don’t. But poodles and old English Sheepdogs are predisposed to lose their hair after chemotherapy. But don’t worry. It will grow back. Keep in mind that Lymphosarcoma treatable but not curable.
Will the disease come back and how long will it last? This depends on the type of Lymphosarcoma the dog has. But with the latest medical advances, approximately 90% of dogs achieve a complete remission. The average remission is between 8 and 12 months.
What happens after the dog comes out of remission? It can be treated just like the first time. Also, the second and third remissions are treatable.
The whole cost of the treatment begins at about $500 and can go up to $2,000 in case of a large pet.
Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category
Dog's Health: Lymphosarcoma Cancer
January 31st, 2010 
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All about Benign Breast Cancer
January 31st, 2010 admin There are many causes of benign breast cancer. These are the changes in the breast tissue, any breast infection or injury, and any medicine that are taken that have caused the lumps or the breast pain. Changes in the tissues of a woman’s breasts occur with the fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle.
Types of Benign Breast Conditions
There are many types of lumps and conditions in the breast that are benign and it is very important to know them so that you will not have to be unnecessarily alarmed when you find a lump in one or both of your breasts.
   * Fibrocystic changes. This increases the size and tenderness in the breast before the menstrual period. These lumps are just milk ducts and surrounding tissues that have grown and dilated to form cysts. The lumps that are formed may be hard or rubbery. Fibrocystic changes are often noticeable among women in their 40s.
   * Simple cysts. These are just fluid filled cysts that change in size with the woman’s menstrual cycles.
   * Fibroademonas. These are considered the most common benign tumors in a female breast. They are solid, round, and rubbery, and they can move freely in the breast once they are pushed upon and it is usually painless. This type of benign breast condition is due to the excessive formation of the milk producing glands and the surrounding breast tissue. This condition will most likely occur in women between the age of 20 and 30.
   * Intraductal papillomas. This condition is characterized by small, wart-like growths in the lining of the mammary duct near the nipple area and women between the age of 45 and 50 are the most likely to be affected.
   * Traumatic fatnecrosis. This condition will occur if a trauma like an injury occurs in the breast and the characteristics of the lumps are round, firm, hard, single, and usually painless.
What You Should Do If You Find A Lump
Once you discover a lump in your breast you should immediately see a physician because it might be a benign breast cancer condition. It is recommended to see a doctor right away if you find the following in your breasts:
   * An area that is distinctly different from another area in either breasts
   * A lump or a thickening near the breast or the underarm that is persistent
   * A change in the size, shape, and contour of the breast
   * A mass or lump in your breast
   * Changes in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or the nipple.
   * They are dimpled, puckered, and appear scaly or even inflamed.
   * A bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples
   * Redness in the skin on the nipple area or anywhere on the breast
A monthly examination of the breast is recommended to detect any abnormalities that are found in the breast and to prevent any development of benign breast lumps.
Golf – Mickelson Steps out of PGA Tour as Wife is Diagnosed with Cancer
January 31st, 2010 admin By Audrey Nolan The World No. 2 golf player Phil Mickelson announced on Wednesday that he is stepping out from the PGA tour schedule indefinitely since his wife, Amy Mickelson, was diagnosed with breast cancer. According to his management office, his wife will have to be submitted to some more tests but she will start the treatment as soon as possible, and she will be submitted to surgery as well, while Phil will stay beside her to help her overcome this hard situation.
Mickelson was scheduled to participate in the Byron Nelson Championship that is being held this week and he was supposed to defend his Crowne Plaza Invitational title at Colonial next week as well, but that is still uncertain due to the new announcement. In addition, his participation on this year’s US Open would be on hold while he waits for the results from Amy’s surgery and treatment. Many people involved with the PGA Tour have already expressed their sympathy with Mickelson and his wife. “We see Amy as this vibrant, bubbly mother of three who is tremendously devoted to her husband and family,” veteran golfer Jack Nicklaus said. “No one, especially Amy, deserves to have to face the battle that accompanies cancer. But we know that Amy has this amazing inner strength and spirit, and with Phil’s unwavering love and support, they will fight and overcome this.” Amy and Phil have always been very close to each other; she is always giving support to Phil in all the competitions that he participates in. She is also a very committed mother and wife; she can be seen in the tournaments with their three kids showing love and a positive spirit to her husband who is very committed to her too.
Scott Verplank, who knows Mickelson well and has played with him in two Ryder Cup teams and two President Cup teams, said that he felt really bad when he found out of Amy’s condition, since for him she is a very neat person who always has a smile on her face and that he hopes they can treat this situation successfully since they discovered the illness in a early stage.
Breast cancer survivor Sarah Strange, who is the wife of former Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange, also said that she knows that Amy is going to overcome this difficult situation and that she will move forward with confidence because of the upbeat personality that she has; she also expressed that she could share all of her experiences with Amy since she has already gone through the same and that she would give her all her support because she deserves it as she was always supportive to her when her husband was the captain of the team. Amy and Phil Mickelson met each other in 1992 and got married in 1996.
They have three kids together: Amanda, Sophia and Evan of 9, 7 and 6 years. When is Phil going to be back in the Tour is still very uncertain. All of this occurs when Mickelson rival, Tiger Woods, is back from and eight months leave due to a knee surgery; however, his priorities have obviously changed completely now. We hope the best for this great player, his wife and his entire family.
How to Perform Breast Self-Examination
January 31st, 2010 admin Breast cancer is one of the top diseases causing death among women. The problem of breast cancer haunts every woman. The cancer is dreaded not only for what it stands, but because of the string of complications it carries along its wake. In such a situation, detecting the onset of breast cancer is of prime consideration because in most cases, by the time the cancer is detected, the disease has spread so much that it may be too late to cure it. Nonetheless, with proper education and better treatment procedures, women have a far better chance combating the disease.
Because breast cancer is a widely dreaded disease, efforts are put in place to help women detect early signs of breast cancer and other forms of breast diseases. One such method used in detecting breast abnormalities is the breast self-examination (BSE). BSE is the process of finding abnormalities in the breast. It involves looking and feeling at both breasts for possible swellings that may be the telltale signs of breast cancer development.Â
How to Conduct Breast Self-Examination
BSE is performed in front of a mirror with the torso exposed so as to view better the procedure being done. The process involves doing the so-called 7Ps, which are the guide toward a successful breast examination and early detection of breast cancer. The 7 procedures are the following:
1. Position. This involves inspecting both breasts and palpate in the mirror with the arms at various positions to give the woman leverage on the examination at various angles. The examination is first performed lying down with a pillow under one shoulder and then followed by a pillow on the opposite shoulder and then finally lying flat.
2. Perimeter. This means the width with which the examination is done. First, the entire breast is examined, including the nipple and then followed by examining the area extending into the armpit and the nearby lymph nodes.
3. Palpation. This is done by palpating with the pads of the fingers without lifting the fingers as they move across the breast.
4. Pressure. This means the amount of pressure exerted on the breast during BSE. The process involves employing light pressure first, then moderate, and finally heavy pressure.
5. Pattern. There are three patterns available to a woman, whichever she feels most comfortable with. The first pattern is the so-called vertical strip, which involves moving the fingers up and down over the breast. The second pattern is the pie-wedge pattern, which starts at the nipple and then moves outwards. The third pattern is the circular pattern, which involves moving the fingers in circles outward from the nipple.
6. Practice. With the continued practice of conducting BSE, one will get a feel of the breast tissue and enable a woman to detect breast tissue changes.
7. Plan. This means knowing what to do in case changes in breast tissues are detected.
Although 80 percent of growth detected through BSE are non-malignant in nature and may not lead to breast cancer, it is nonetheless wise to report any changes to the doctor to conduct a mammogram.
Mammogram
January 31st, 2010 admin What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. There are two types of mammograms. A screening mammogram is used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer. It usually involves two x-rays of each breast. Mammograms make it possible to detect tumors.
A diagnostic mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of breast cancer has been found. Signs of breast cancer may include pain, skin thickening, nipple discahrge or a change in breast size or shape. A diagnostic mammogram may also be used to evaluate changes found during a screening mammogram, or to view breast tissue when it is difficult to obtain a screening mammogram because of special circumstances, such as the presence of breast implants.
When should women begin to have mammograms?
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that women age 40 and older have mammograms every 1 to 2 years.
Women at higher than average risk of breast cancer should talk with their physicians about whether to have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have them.
What are the risk factors?
As a woman gets older, her risk of having breast cancer becomes greater.
The following factors increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer:
Personal History.
Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop a second breast cancer.
Family History.
A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer is increased if her mother, sister and/or daughter have a history of breast cancer, particularly if diagnosed before age 50.
Changes seen with breast biopsy.
Women who have had two or more breast biopsies for other benign conditions also have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. This increased risk is due to the condition that led to the biopsy itself.
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Genetic Alterations/Changes
Specific alterations in certain genes increase the risk of breast cancer. These alterations are rare; they are estimated to account for no more than 10% of all breast cancers.
Reproductive and Menstrual History
Women who began having periods before age 12 or who went through menopause after age 55 are at an increased risk. Women who have their first child after age 30 or who never have a child are at an increased risk.
Long-term Use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Women who use combination estrogen-progestin menopausal hormone therapy fr more than 5 years have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Breast Density
Breasts appear dense on a mammogram if they contain many glands and ligaments and do not have a lot of fatty tissue. Because breast cancers tend to develop in the dense breast tissue of the breast, older women whose mammograms show more dense tissue are at an increased risk.
Radiation Therapy
Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including the breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer throughout their lives.
DES (Diethylstilbesterol)
The drug DES was given to some pregnant women in the US between 1941 and 1971. Those who took DES during pregnancy may have a slightly higher risk.
Body Weight
Studies have found that the chances of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight.
Physical Activity Levels
Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol
Studies suggest that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her chances of developing breast cancer.
What are the chances that a woman in the United States might get breast cancer?
Age is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. The older a woman is, the greater her chance of developing breast cancer. Current rates suggest that 13.2 percent of
women (or one in eight) born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. This statistic is based on population averages.
How Much Does A Mammogram Cost?
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Screening mammograms usually cost between $50 and $150. Most insurance companies now have laws requiring health insurance companies to reimburse all or part of the cost of screening.
Remember to check your breasts every month!
Ovarian Cancer – You Need to Cure It
January 31st, 2010 admin If your doctor tells you that you have a complex ovarian mass, this means you have a growth on your ovary that has both cystic (fluid filled) and solid components on ultrasound. In most cases, this is an uncomfortable, but harmless condition. Rarely, this mass is cancerous. Of women who are tested for ovarian cancer, less than 1 in 1000 actually has cancer.
Most cervical cases of cancer develop after a woman has been diagnosed with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Cervical and breast cancer is better detected during its early stages of development to avoid severe complications that especially arise if cancerous cells have already spread up to the heart or vagina’s surface. Too much delay before treatment allows the cancer cells to spread to the entire body. If they do, then nothing much can really be done to save a patient’s life because at this stage the cancer is said to be in the terminal phase.
Some woman do not have normal ovaries, instead they have developed polycystic ovaries which are ovaries where the follicles do not disintegrate after ovulation. Instead these follicles gather and form in clumps inside the ovaries. Generally speaking, polycystic ovaries are not bothersome and do not effect the chances of a woman becoming pregnant, however they can cause problems.
Most women that are interested in natural ovarian cures want them cured permanently, not just a quick fix. This is why surgery is not the best option for those that want long term relief. Surgery will not stop future cyst from coming back. Medications will not cure your cyst either. Your family doctor might prescribe birth control pills for women that have ovarian cysts, but this is not a good a good solution for the long term. These pills contain both female and male hormones, and these pills will stop an egg from being released.
Should a patient experience a fever or vomiting along with very severe pelvic pain…that is cause for alarm and should be considered an emergency! Another warning sign of problematic ovarian cysts is a rapid heartbeat, which is accompanied by dizziness, weakness or faintness. A woman’s doctor needs to be contacted without delay if any of the aforementioned symptoms are present. An additional concern for a woman is abnormal bleeding…or bleeding in between periods.
The main problem with traditional medicine is that it only treats what is going on right now with your body, not dealing with what can happen in the future. Another thing is that, many of the treatments and drugs that your doctor will give you can be almost as painful and damaging as the cysts themselves. Cyst Symptom will keep on happening until you can find a way to prevent them. The best thing that you can do is find a natural cure for your cyst symptom.
Even if your ovaries were removed, there is a chance that some ovarian tissue was left behind. If you had cysts before, especially large cysts, the cells from the ovaries may have migrated to the surrounding tissue, such as the small intestine. This remainder can still produce follicles, which can grow into cysts.
Preventing Breast Cancer
January 31st, 2010 admin Breast cancer is the commonest cancer of women in the world. It can happen to anybody, young or old, married or single. One in 5 women is at the risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime in USA. In India the incidence is slightly lower but it is increasing.
A lot of research is being done to find the cause and cure of breast cancer. Cause of breast cancer is still unknown. Certain cancer genes have been identified that run in families or can occur newly by mutation in women without any family gene. Tests are available to detect such a gene so that extra precautions can be taken to detect cancer early in women with such genes. Since the advances in plastic surgery have made it possible to create attractive new breasts, women who are genetically at high risk can go for removal of breasts and reconstruction.
Prevention gives the best chance of cure. You can beat the cancer by being cautious and detecting it early. Remember cancer starts as a painless lump in the breast and you have the best chance of detecting it yourself. By Breast self examination ( BSE). This is how you can do It:
* Stand in front of a mirror with top exposed.
* Place hands on hips.
* Look for signs of dimpling, swelling, soreness, or redness in all parts of your breasts in the mirror.
* Repeat with arms raised above your head.
* While still standing, palpate your breasts with your fingers, feeling for lumps. Try to use a larger area of your fingers rather than prodding. Feel both for the area just beneath the skin and for the tissue deeper within.
* Go over the entire breast while examining. One method is to divide the breast into quadrants and palpate each quadrant carefully. Also examine the “axillary tail” of each breast that extends toward the armpit.
* Repeat palpation while lying down.
* Check the nipples and the area just beneath them. Gently squeeze each nipple to check for any discharge.
Breasts tend to feel different in different parts of menstrual cycle. Therefore BSE should be done 7-10 days after the first day of periods, every month. Once you get the feel of your breasts it will be easy for you to detect any change and you will be able to differentiate normal breast feel from that of a lump.
If you have detected a lump or nodule do not panic, because 8 out of ten times these are harmless. You should go to an expert surgeon for examination. She/he may advise further testing if needed like mammography( breast X ray) and sonography of breast -both of which are painless .Fine needle biopsy may also be needed to get the diagnosis.
If the lump is benign (harmless) it can be left alone or can be removed through small incision. If it is malignant (cancer) and detected early (less than 2 cm size lump) then it is possible to have breast preserving surgery wherein only the lump with surrounding rim of normal breast is removed leaving behind rest of the breast and radiation to the breast. For bigger cancers treatment usually involves total removal of breast and chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. Plastic surgical breast reconstruction is commonly done after total removal of breast. If the cancer is detected in early stage, very long survival 20 years or more is known after complete treatment.
After the age of 40 yearly mammography can be done to detect any minute cancer. It is like an X ray and is painless. Early detection not only allows for breast preservation but also increases the chances of cure.
Cancer Won't Wait. Why Should You?
January 31st, 2010 admin October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and there is no better time to prevent it than now. While eating healthy foods and keeping fit can help to prevent breast cancer, it can still strike despite all of your efforts. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for you to schedule regular breast cancer screenings or DNA Testing. By discovering a cancerous tumor in your breast earlier, the greater your chance of survival will become.
Here is a look at some of our lifestyle risks that we can control:
- Being obese or overweight
- Diet high in saturated fat
- More than 2 alcoholic drinks per day
- Too little physical activity
- Taking birth control pills for longer than 10 years if under 35
Other risks we have no control over:
- Early menstruation or late menopause
- First child at an older age or not having given birth
- Age. Especially those over 65
- Reasonably Increased Risk if you have family history of breast cancer (especially mother or sister), personal history of breast cancer of benign (non-cancer) breast disease and/or dense breast tissue.
- You also have a high risk if you have had past radiation therapy to the chest. Other factors include hormone treatments, gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, or a parent, brother, sister or child with these gene mutations: Li-Fraumeni, Cowden, or Bannayan Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.
When and what screening to begin with as recommended by the American Cancer Society:
- Between your 20s and 30s you should have a clinical breast exam every three years.
- In your 40s have a clinical breast exam and mammogram every year.
- For those with a moderately increased risk you should consult your doctors about whether and when you should add MRI screenings to your yearly mammogram
- For those at high risk a MRI and mammogram should be done every year beginning at the age of 30.
It is very important that we all stay on top of our health, whether we are a man or woman. So why wait until it is too late to realize how valuable your health is. A simple DNA test could determine if you may be genetically predisposed to breast cancer. For more information on how it can be prevented, be sure to visit CyGene Direct for your entire Personal DNA Testing needs. All of CyGene Directs’ DNA tests can be done anonymously and in the comfort of your own home.
Skin Cancer, Remedies Of Skin Cancer and Prevention's
January 30th, 2010 admin Whenever possible, people should avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Standard Time, or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Daylight Savings Time).
Keep in mind that protective clothing, such as sun hats and long sleeves, can block out the sun’s harmful rays. Also, lotions that contain sunscreen can protect the skin. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher.
Excisional surgery type of treatment may be appropriate for any type of skin cancer. Your doctor cuts out (excises) the cancerous tissue and a surrounding margin of healthy skin.
A wide excision — removing extra normal skin around the tumor — may be recommended in some cases. To minimize or avoid scarring, especially on your face, you may need to consult a doctor skilled in skin reconstruction.
Causes of Skin Cancer
Pancreatin is a mix of many different enzymes, and those involved in the digestion of proteins are also used to help eliminate cancers that occur.
Cancer is often a disease of protein metabolism because the pancreatin enzyme cancer defense mechanism can be overwhelmed by consuming protein rich foods at inappropriate times or in excessive amounts.
The body needs a time span each day approaching twelve hours or more without protein consumption for its pancreatin cancer defense mechanism to work optimally.
It cleanses the skin and removes dead cells from the surface of the skin. It will also remove the dust and dirt that chokes the pores on the skin. Try making cleansers at home via using vegetable oils, coconut oil and water.
Cryotherapy technique uses extreme cold to treat pre-cancerous skin conditions and some small skin cancers. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor to freeze and kill abnormal cells.
Prevention’s
Moles, warts and various skin cancers usually look much different than a skin tag. If you have any doubt that your growth may be a mole, wart or some type of skin cancer – see your dermatologist! Moles and skin cancers are not to be treated at home.
Mix the castor oil and baking soda to form a paste – on the thick side so it won’t slide off your body. Try to keep this paste on the tags for several hours a day – maybe use a rag or cloth to hold it in place? You should see them dry up in less that two weeks.
Cut a piece of duct tape small enough to cover the skin tag – and not much else. Apply the tape to the growth and keep it on as long as possible. Replace often. After a couple of weeks, you should see the tag drying up and coming off.
A good skin care routine can protect against ageing and ameliorate all these problems. Cheap creams and lotions can contain harmful ingredients that will worsen your problems and also lead to open pores, patchy skin and severe skin reactions. Many cosmetic creams contain harsh chemicals that can damage your skin in the long term.
Finally, the sunscreen will protect your face against sun damage and prevent pigmentation. The sunscreen also hydrates the skin and promotes skin renewal to keep it fresh and moist. DR’s secret is a comprehensive range that will not only prevent premature ageing of your skin.
The Process Of Colon Cancer Surgery
January 30th, 2010 admin The important part of the digestive system is colon. The colon helps the body to absorb nutrients, minerals and water. The other function of the colon is help the body get rid of its waste food particles and undigested materials in the form of stool. The length of the colon is approximately six feet and makes up the major portion of the large intestine. At the end of the large intestine are the rectum and the anal canal.
When cancer occurs in the cells of the colon, it is known as the ‘Colon Cancer’. This type of cancer is common and is found in both men and women. It has been estimated that almost 110,000 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with colon cancer every year.
Generally 95% of all colon cancers are of the adenocarcinomas type and the rest 5% are of less common cell types which includes neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stomal tumors, carcinoid tumors, lymphomas, melanomas, leimyosarcomas and signet ring cell tumors.
For effective treatment of the patient the doctor has to examine the extant or the stage of the cancer and then decide about the course of treatment to be followed. If tumors are to be removed due to colon cancer, then resection surgery also known as the partial or hemicolectomy is chosen as treatment.
The resection surgery is a major surgery and requires the surgeon to enter the abdomen through a large incision in the abdominal wall. The section of the colon or rectum which is diseased is removed along with the lymph nodes and some parts of the healthy colon. After removal, the two healthy ends are reattached again. The aim of the surgeon performing the colon cancer surgery is to make the patient to return to the most normal bowel function as soon as possible.
In the aftermath of the operation, some tissues are removed from the lymph nodes and sent to the laboratory for pathological examination. The function of the lymph nodes is to conduct the flow of a fluid known as the “lymph” into the cells in the body. As a rule, cancer cells tend to gather in the lymph nodes, so it is a good indicator for determining cancer and how far it has spread. The risk of the cancer reoccurring is also reduced after the removal of the lymph nodes.
There may be cases where a large part of the colon or rectum is diseased and the reconnection (also known as the anastomosis) may not be possible. In such cases the surgeon may perform a colostomy.
Surgeons create colostomy by inserting a large part of the intestine through an opening created in the abdominal wall. The portion of the colon that remains outside the body is known as the “Stoma” (mouth). A bag is attached to the stoma to collect the waste material of the body. This bag has to be emptied several times in a day regularly.
Colostomies are a temporary phenomenon and is necessary for allowing the colon to heal properly after completion of the surgery. After some times, a second surgery is performed to reattach the colon together. Permanent colostomy is required only in 15 percent of the cases of the surgery.
Recovery from the colon cancer surgery takes place in different phases which includes the postoperative stay in the hospital and the recovery time at home. Problems like infections and blockages are monitored by the doctors and complications if any are promptly treated. The patient is generally able to get back to his or her regular diet after a period of time that may be prescribed by the doctor. Care should be taken in taking your diet which should preferably be as per the instructions of your doctor.