What Is Colon Cancer?
8. How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed and Treated?
If a suspected colon cancer is detected during a diagnostic test or screening, your doctor will most likely perform a biopsy. This involves using a special instrument to remove a small piece of tissue in the affected area. In rare cases, part of the colon may need to be taken out surgically in order to diagnose colon cancer. Once a biopsy is taken, it’s sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope. If the lab results positively identify cancer, additional tests may be done to classify the cancer with accuracy.
The type of treatment recommended for colon cancer depends on a variety of factors, including the location, size and stage of the cancer. Common treatment types include surgery, medications and chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Each of these treatment types is associated with various benefits and potential risks. Before deciding what type of treatment to receive for yourself, it’s important to make sure you understand all of your available options in detail.
Advertisement
