A cancer diagnosis always comes as a shock. Colon cancer is especially uncomfortable, especially if you have to undergo colostomy. While you would need every bit of your courage to deal with the situation, you also need to be prepared with what you should ask your doctor and how to get the best medical treatment. Here are 13 foods that can help you keep cancer at bay.
Here Dr Meghal Sangvi, oncology surgeon , Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai, tells you everything you need to ask your doctor when diagnosed with colon cancer.
Question 1: What stage is my cancer?
This will give you an idea where you stand with the disease and what are your chances of survival. Ideally, if it is in the first three stages, the cancer can be treated well with high rate of survival. A surgery is done to remove the diseased part of the colon that has the polyps or malignant growths. A colonoscopy is done to find how much the the cancer has spread. Here are nine things you can do to keep cancer at bay.
Question 2: How much has the cancer spread?
Even if you know which stage your cancer is, there is no harm in asking your doctor where the cancer is located. The stages of colon cancer greatly depend on the location, size and extent of the spread of the polyps. In the first two stages, the cancer is situated within the colon, in the third stage, it spreads to the adjoining lymph nodes while in the fourth stage it can metastasis or spread to other major organs like lung, liver, etc. This will help you know how much the disease has affected your body. Did you know snoring could also increase your risk of cancer?
Question 3: What kind of treatment do I need?
Treating cancer, any kind, depends on each individual case. If it is a stage I or II, surgery is usually performed to remove the diseased part of the colon. Depending on the health of the patient, a stage III colon cancer is treated with chemotherapy and surgery. The treatment modality for stage IV cancer also remains the same, probably with a colostomy done. It is a surgical procedure, where an opening is made in the abdominal wall and the healthy end of the colon is attached to the opening to collect bowel and waste material. You need to know everything in detail about your treatment so that you can prepare yourself mentally and physically to go through the strain. Here are 10 dos and don ts people need to follow during chemotherapy.
Question 4: What precautions would I need to take?
Remember, with your colon gone for a toss, your nutrition and eating habits have to be changed drastically. You probably have to seek help from a nutritionist to help your body heal and fight the disease with the right food. Also, be on track with your medications and chemotherapy schedules. Your treatment can span from few weeks to few months, and you will have to follow all instructions given to you diligently. If you are asked not to lift weights or have specific medications follow the instructions. Some of them are given to suppress the side effects of your treatment. Here are six common tests to determine your cancer risk.
Question 5: Will I need a colostomy?
While your doctor might tell you about this probability right during discussing treatment, still ask if you have to deal with it later. Sometimes you might have to go for this procedure after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. So get the correct brief like what are the stages of treatment and what you need to be prepared for.
Question 6: Is there a support group I can talk to?
There are times when you might find that you are the only one dealing with this condition and have nowhere to go for help or hope. So ask the doctor if there is a support group that you can talk to and interact with. Most hospitals and health care centres have support groups to boost one s mental strength and garner more support. Talk, vent, feel confident. Cancer is not always the end of your life.
Question 7: What can I do to prevent recurrence?
People who undergo successful treatment have high chances of survival even if they have to undergo colostomy. A study published in the journal Cancer showed that people who were in remission for two years after surgery had a higher chances of survival and lesser of recurrence.
Question 8: Are my children at a risk too?
Mostly cancers related to the digestive track are hereditary in nature. So if you have been diagnosed with one, don t forget to ask your doctor how you can help your family deal with it or prevent it. Regular screening and proper diagnosis is one way in which your future generation can be safe and get treated at the right time.
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