Colon Cancer Surgery in Ahmedabad

Colon cancer treatment in Ahmedabad is planned according to the stage of the cancer. Surgery is the main treatment for cancer that has not spread, and chemotherapy is added for some patients after the removed bowel has been examined. Found at an early stage, colon cancer can often be treated successfully.

At Tirtham Surgical Hospital, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad, laparoscopic hemicolectomy for colon cancer is listed among the advanced laparoscopic surgeries. Chemotherapy, when the stage needs it, is advised by an oncologist. This page explains the symptoms, screening, tests, stages, types of operation, the stoma question, recovery, follow-up and risks.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Early colon cancer often causes no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include:

• A change in bowel habit lasting more than a few weeks — looser stools, constipation, or passing stool more often
• Blood in the stool or bleeding from the back passage
• Tiredness, breathlessness or pale skin from anaemia, sometimes the only sign of a cancer in the right side of the colon
• Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain, bloating or a lump in the abdomen

Risk Factors

• Increasing age
• A family history of bowel cancer or polyps
• A personal history of polyps or previous bowel cancer
• Long-standing ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon
• Inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis
• A diet high in red and processed meat and low in fibre, excess weight, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol

Screening and Early Detection

Because colon cancer often grows from a polyp over several years, colonoscopy can find and remove polyps before they become cancer, and can find cancer at an earlier stage. Stool tests that detect hidden blood are also used for screening. Many international guidelines advise screening from about 45–50 years of age for people at average risk, and earlier for those with a family history or other risk factors. Your doctor can advise on the right test and timing for you.

Related page: Lower GI endoscopy

How Colon Cancer Is Diagnosed and Staged — Step by Step

• Medical history and examination: symptoms, family history, and examination of the abdomen and back passage
• Colonoscopy and biopsy: a flexible camera examines the whole large bowel, and tissue samples confirm the diagnosis
• CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis: checks the local extent of the cancer and whether it has spread to the liver, lungs or elsewhere
• Blood tests: blood count for anaemia, liver and kidney function, and CEA (a tumour marker used for follow-up)
• Other tests in selected patients: MRI of the liver or a PET scan
• Multidisciplinary team discussion: surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and pathologists plan the treatment together

Colon Cancer Treatment by Stage

The final stage is confirmed after the removed bowel and lymph nodes are examined under the microscope.

When the cancer has not spread to distant organs, colon cancer treatment in Ahmedabad usually starts with surgery, and the need for chemotherapy is decided once the pathology report is available.

Radiotherapy is not routinely used for colon cancer, unlike rectal cancer. Chemotherapy is advised by an oncologist based on the pathology results.

Which Operation? It Depends on Where the Cancer Is

The part of the colon removed depends on where the cancer is and which blood vessels supply that part of the bowel.

In each operation, the cancer is removed with a clear margin of healthy bowel and the lymph nodes that drain that part of the colon. Generally at least 12 lymph nodes are examined to stage the cancer accurately.

Will I Need a Stoma?

For most planned colon cancer operations, the healthy ends of the bowel are joined, and a permanent stoma is not needed. Bowel movements then pass through the back passage as before.

A stoma may be needed when the cancer causes an emergency, such as a blocked or burst bowel, when the patient is very unwell, or when a join is not considered safe. Such a stoma is often temporary and can be closed with a later operation. If a stoma is possible in your case, this is explained before surgery.

Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Operation in Ahmedabad: Step by Step

• General anaesthesia is given
• Small incisions are made in the abdomen for a camera and fine instruments, and the abdomen is gently inflated with gas
• The blood vessels supplying the affected part of the colon are divided close to their origin, to remove the lymph nodes with them
• The affected colon is freed from surrounding tissues
• The bowel segment with the cancer is removed through one slightly larger incision, using a protective cover
• The healthy ends of the bowel are joined with staples or stitches
• The incisions are closed

Keyhole surgery generally means smaller wounds, less pain and a quicker recovery than open surgery, while following the same cancer surgery principles. Sometimes the operation is changed to open surgery when that is safer — for example, because of a large tumour or scarring from previous surgery. The removed bowel is sent for histopathology.

Emergency Presentation

Some colon cancers are first found because they block or perforate the bowel. Emergency surgery may then be needed, sometimes with a stoma. In selected patients with a blockage, a stent may be placed through a colonoscope to relieve it, so that planned surgery can be done later.

Related pages: Intestinal obstruction · Intestinal perforation · Lap APR for rectal cancer

Preparing for Colon Cancer Surgery

• Completion of staging tests and the treatment plan
• Correction of anaemia, and advice on nutrition
• Advice on walking and breathing exercises, and stopping smoking
• Bowel preparation, if advised
• Blood tests, ECG and other tests as advised, and a pre-anaesthesia check-up
• A check of all medicines; blood thinners may need to be stopped or adjusted, only as advised by the doctor
• Written informed consent after the operation, its benefits, risks and alternatives have been explained

Recovery and Follow-Up

• Hospital stay: usually a few days after planned keyhole surgery; longer after emergency surgery or if complications occur
• Early recovery: walking from the first day; fluids, then light food as the bowel starts working, as part of an enhanced recovery plan
• Return to activity: light activity within a few weeks; heavy lifting avoided for at least 6 weeks, to lower the risk of a hernia
• Bowel habit: stools may be looser or more frequent at first and usually settle
• Chemotherapy: if advised, usually started some weeks after surgery, once recovery allows
• Follow-up: regular clinic visits, CEA blood tests, CT scans and colonoscopy for several years

When to Contact the Hospital After Surgery

• Fever, or increasing abdominal pain or swelling
• Repeated vomiting, or inability to pass gas or stool
• Redness, swelling or discharge from a wound
• Bleeding from the back passage
• Breathlessness, or pain and swelling in the calf

Risks and Possible Complications

Colon cancer surgery is major surgery. The risks are higher in emergency surgery, in elderly patients and in people with other medical conditions. The surgeon explains these risks before taking consent.

• Leak from the join (anastomotic leak) — uncommon but serious; may need further surgery or a stoma
• Bleeding, which may need transfusion
• Wound infection or infection inside the abdomen
• Delayed return of bowel function (ileus)
• Injury to nearby organs, such as the ureter, spleen, small bowel or blood vessels — rare
• Hernia at an incision site
• Adhesions that can cause blockage in the future
• Changes in bowel habit, which usually settle
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs, and chest or urinary infection
• Return of the cancer, which is why follow-up is important
• Conversion to open surgery
• Anaesthesia-related risks — assessed at the pre-anaesthesia check-up

Family History and Inherited Risk

Some colon cancers are linked to inherited conditions, such as Lynch syndrome. If colon cancer is found at a young age, or several family members have had bowel or related cancers, the doctor may advise genetic counselling and tests. Close relatives may then be advised to start screening earlier.

Colon Cancer Surgery Cost in Ahmedabad

The cost differs from patient to patient. The main factors are:

• The type of operation and the length of bowel removed
• Laparoscopic or open technique
• Planned or emergency surgery, and whether a stoma is made
• Investigations required, such as colonoscopy, CT and blood tests
• Length of hospital stay, room category, and intensive care if needed
• Medicines, blood transfusion and histopathology
• Chemotherapy after surgery, if advised

A written estimate based on the patient's diagnosis and chosen room category can be requested from the hospital.

Insurance

• Mediclaim and cashless facility is available, subject to the patient's policy terms and insurer approval
• Assistance is provided with documents required for reimbursement claims

Doctors Involved in Colon Cancer Care

Colon cancer is treated by a team rather than by one doctor. The operation is performed by a surgeon trained in bowel cancer surgery, and chemotherapy, when needed, is advised by a medical oncologist. Each doctor has a different role:

Choosing a Surgeon for Colon Cancer Surgery

Colon cancer surgery must remove the cancer with a clear margin and its lymph nodes, so the surgeon's training and the way care is coordinated both matter. When choosing a surgeon, these points are worth checking:

Choosing a Hospital for Colon Cancer Surgery

A hospital for colon cancer surgery should be able to stage the cancer, perform major bowel surgery safely, manage complications and connect the patient with chemotherapy and long-term follow-up. These facilities matter most:

Treating Surgeon

At Tirtham Surgical Hospital, colon cancer surgery in Ahmedabad is performed by:

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Facilities at Tirtham Surgical Hospital

• 24-hour emergency operating team
• Laparoscopic and endoscopic setup
• Mediclaim and cashless facility, subject to policy terms
• 6 themed recovery rooms
• Large parking facility

Contact and Location