How to defecate after transverse colon cancer surgery

Written by Sun Wei

Surgical Oncology

Updated on September 20, 2024

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If transverse colon cancer is treated with curative resection surgery and no stoma creation, the anus is preserved, and defecation occurs through the original anus. If a colostomy is performed after surgery for transverse colon cancer, defecation occurs through an artificial anus, typically located in the lower left abdomen. There can be opportunities to reverse the stoma later if necessary. Even with a stoma, patients can gradually adapt. The main focus is always on completely removing the tumor. Generally, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is also used to control the condition.

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What are the early symptoms of colon cancer?

The early symptoms of colon cancer mainly include discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen, which does not necessarily become more pronounced after eating and generally occurs intermittently. Some patients may also experience changes in stool shape, primarily manifested as narrower stools, or an increased frequency of bowel movements per day, leading to diarrhea. Some patients in the early stages may experience worsening of pre-existing constipation, or alternating symptoms of diarrhea and constipation. Some colon cancer patients in the early stages may experience bloody stools, or the presence of mucus, pus, and blood in the stool, which are some atypical gastrointestinal symptoms of colitis. Some patients may also experience nausea.

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Is colon cancer surgery a major surgery?

Colon cancer surgery is considered a relatively major procedure, ranking as a class three or four surgery in general surgery. Generally, it involves the resection of the entire transverse colon or tumors located in other areas such as the ascending or descending colon, accompanied by the removal of surrounding lymph nodes, followed by intestinal anastomosis and digestive tract reconstruction. Post-surgery, comprehensive anti-tumor treatment is usually required. After colon cancer surgery, the main focus is on preventing intestinal leakage, which is a serious complication. Dietary intake needs to be gradually restored after surgery. Initially, the patient may only be able to consume liquid and easily digestible foods, gradually transitioning to semi-liquid and regular diets, while also paying attention to eating smaller, more frequent meals.

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What are the symptoms of bone metastases from colon cancer?

Colon cancer generally refers to a malignant tumor that grows on the colon and typically appears in middle-aged populations. If colon cancer is not treated promptly, it can easily lead to bone metastasis. The bone metastasis of colon cancer is similar to other tumor metastases. The symptoms such as chest pain or tenderness upon pressing could be caused by bone metastasis from lung cancer. In the early stages of colon cancer, there are generally no symptoms of bone metastasis. However, once the tumor metastasizes to weight-bearing bones, thoracic vertebrae, cervical vertebrae, or lumbar vertebrae, it can result in paralysis. Patients must seek timely medical examination and treatment at a hospital to prevent the cancer cells from metastasizing.

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Can late-stage colon cancer be completely removed by surgery?

In clinical practice, for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, even after curative surgical resection, it is often difficult to completely remove the tumor. This is because by the mid-to-late stages, the colon cancer has typically started to invade surrounding tissues. Despite curative surgery, patients may still have subclinical lesions, which are typically hard to detect either under a microscope or with the naked eye. The presence of these subclinical lesions leads to a higher likelihood of recurrence and metastasis after curative surgery in mid-to-late-stage colon cancer patients. Therefore, to reduce the rates of recurrence and metastasis, it is common clinical practice to administer adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after the curative surgical resection for patients with mid-to-late-stage colon cancer, aiming to decrease the risk of cancer recurrence and metastasis.

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What to do about liver metastasis from transverse colon cancer?

Liver metastasis in transverse colon cancer is relatively common, especially in cases where the disease has progressed. Because the transverse colon is located close to the liver region, tumors in this area can potentially metastasize to the liver via the lymphatic or blood circulation, or through local infiltration. In cases where the liver metastasis is localized, there is still an opportunity for surgical treatment involving a radical resection of the transverse colon cancer combined with partial hepatectomy. If there are multiple metastases in the liver, radical surgery may not be feasible. Initially, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy or targeted therapy is performed. If the liver metastatic lesions can be reduced or disappear, there may still be a chance for surgical treatment afterwards.