The best colon cancer treatment in India is dependent upon factors like which part of the colon or rectum is affected and how much the cancer has spread. Typically, the first approach to treating colon cancer is through surgery. However, in unfortunate instances of when the cancer is widespread, management of conditions is the only possibility. The chances of treating colon cancer depend majorly on how early the cancer is detected. Some the traditional and latest colon cancer treatment approaches are as follows:

• Surgery

The primary goal of surgery is to remove the parts of the colon or rectum with or without the surrounding lymph nodes which are affected by cancer. The types of surgeries performed for colon cancer are as follows:

• Polypectomy (colonoscopy for polyps’ removal)

The surgical removal of polyps from the large intestine or colon is known as polypectomy. If your cancer is small, localized, fully contained within a polyp and at a very early stage, it may be completely removed during a colonoscopy by your doctor.

• Endoscopic mucosal resection

Bigger polyps may be eliminated during colonoscopy utilizing special tools in a technique called an endoscopic mucosal resection to remove the polyp and a small amount of the colon's inner lining.

• Bowel diversion surgery

Bowel diversion surgery allows the stool to leave the body safely when the large intestine is removed or it needs time to heal. Bowel is a general term for any part of the intestine, small or big. Some procedures of bowel diversion (those called ostomy surgery) divert the intestine to an opening in the abdomen where a stoma is made. Attached to the stoma is an ostomy pouch, and worn outside the body to collect stool. Often the ostomy is only momentary, permitting for healing of your colon or rectum after surgery.

• Robotic-assisted surgery

Through the intervention of robotic surgery, the surgeon can perform colon resection, rectal resection and rectopexy with improved 3D visualization and manoeuvrability in difficult to access pelvic spaces with smaller and lesser incisions. Additionally, the improved field of view provided with robotic surgery helps the surgeon minimize trauma to important nerves which enhances the preservation of important life considerations such as urinary and sexual function.

• Chemotherapy

The use of drugs to destroy the cancer cells is known as chemotherapy. For colon cancer, chemotherapy is suggested after surgery if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or if it is large. This helps kill any remaining cancer cells in the body and also lessen the risk of reoccurrence. In some cases, chemotherapy is also used before the surgery to shrink the size of the tumour, which helps for easy removal through surgery. Chemotherapy also helps relieve the symptoms of colon cancer. In many cases, chemotherapy is used in conjecture with other treatment protocols like radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, surgery, etc.

• Radiation therapy

The use of powerful beams of energy sources such as x-rays and proton beams to destroy the cancer cells is- known as radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is employed before a surgery to shrink the cancer or to relieve the symptoms when surgery is not an option. For better results, radiation therapy is combined with chemotherapy.

• Targeted drug therapy

The use of targeted drug therapy is usually reserved for patients with advanced colon cancer. Targeted drug treatments concentrate on unique abnormalities within cancer cells. Targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die by blocking those abnormalities.

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is the use of medical drug that enables the immune system to combat cancer. The disease-fighting immune system of your body may not combat your cancer, as the cancer cells release proteins that prevent the cells of the immune system from recognizing the cancer cells. Immunotherapy works by disrupting that process. A sample for the cancer cells will be evaluated to understand whether this treatment can be effective. Moreover, immunotherapy is usually reserved for advanced colon cancer cases.