Colon cancer can be treated through open surgery or keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. Both will require general anesthesia. If you are having keyhole surgery, your surgeon will insert a camera and all surgical instruments through several small incisions in the abdomen. In order to make sure that there is enough space to work in, your abdominal cavity will be inflated with carbon dioxide. Your tumor will be removed through one slightly larger incision in the abdomen.
If you are having open surgery, your surgeon will make one large incision in the abdomen through which the surgery can be done. No matter which type of surgery you are having, your surgeon will attempt to create a new connection between the two sections of colon that remain after the removal. If it turns out that this is not an option for you, you will be given an ostomy bag.
The total time of your admission will depend on the type or surgery you are having. Patients who had keyhole surgery usually spend 5 to 6 days at the hospital, while people who had open surgery tend to need a stay of 7 to 10 days.
Keyhole surgery is the preferred surgery type for colon cancer, as the recovery time is much shorter due to the smaller incisions. If you do need a more complex type of surgery – if the tumor has grown into the surrounding structures, for example – we often prefer open surgery. We will decide which surgery technique best fits you and your situation together during a consultation at the clinic before your surgery.
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