Colon Colorectal Cancer
Colon and colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the US. There are usually no symptoms of this disease until it has grown significantly. According to the National Cancer Institute, overall deaths from colon cancer have decreased with screening techniques such as colonoscopies or fecal occult blood testing. Subsequently, it is essential to follow your doctor’s age and history-related screening recommendations. If it is caught in its early stages, curative treatment for colon cancer is possible for many.
Knowing the geography of the intestinal tract can help patients understand this disease. The colon is also known as the large intestine and surrounds the small intestine in the middle of the abdomen. The colon’s right side is called the proximal colon, the left side is the distal colon, and the last four to five inches of the tract is called the rectum. Cancer that appears anywhere in either the colon or rectum is considered “colorectal cancer.” Typically, an abnormal growth within the intestinal wall called a polyp becomes cancerous and develops into a tumor that can grow outside of the colon wall. Although not all polyps are cancerous, your doctor may recommend proactively removing one or more. Colon cancer can also form due to a genetic mutation passed on within a patient’s family, such as Lynch Syndrome, but these cases are rare. When diagnosed with colon cancer, the cancer stage is determined by how much the tumor has grown or spread to nearby lymph nodes. The stage and type of colon cancer determine the treatment strategy, involving one or more options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.
AN INTEGRATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH TO COLORECTAL CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS.
The integrative clinical team at Salish Cancer Center offers an optimal care model for patients with colorectal cancer at any stage. Patients will meet with their medical oncologist to learn their stage of disease and treatment options and a naturopathic doctor who will offer a therapeutic diet and supplement recommendations to support the treatment plan and ideally slow the spread of or cure disease. Supportive treatments, such as acupuncture, may also be recommended to support strength and healing during treatment. Each time you visit our center, you can expect that our practitioners will have met as a team that morning to discuss your case, ensuring we are all aligned with your care throughout the time you are a patient here.
Most insurance plans are accepted, and our financial counselor is available to discuss pricing and fees before your first visit. However, our clinic must receive all pertinent records before your appointments are scheduled so that we may give you our most well-informed recommendations.
For more detailed information on the colon or colorectal cancer types, potential treatments, or to learn more about our services, please continue reading through our site and visit the Resources pages for helpful tools and information.
Our caring support staff is available to answer questions and schedule consultations. Whether you are newly diagnosed with colon cancer, exploring further options, or would like a second opinion, the physician team’s combined expertise at Salish Cancer Center is here for you.