Complications of Colon Cancer

Possible Complications of the Disease

· Blockage of the colon

· Cancer returning in the colon

· Cancer spreading to other organs or tissues ( metastasis )

· Development of a second primary colorectal cancer

Side Effects of the Treatment

Surgery causes short-term pain and tenderness in the area of the operation. Surgery for colorectal cancer may also cause temporary constipation or diarrhoea. Patients who have a colostomy may have irritation of the skin around the stoma. The doctor, nurse, or enterostomal therapist can teach the patient how to clean the area and prevent irritation and infection.

Chemotherapy affects normal as well as cancer cells. Side effects depend largely on the specific drugs and the dose (amount of drug given). Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhoea, and fatigue. Less often, serious side effects may occur, such as infection or bleeding.

Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, affects normal as well as cancer cells. Side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. Common side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue, skin changes at the site where the treatment is given, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhoea. Sometimes, radiation therapy can cause bleeding through the rectum (bloody stools).

Biological therapy may cause side effects that vary with the specific type of treatment. Often, treatments cause flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, weakness, and nausea.

Prognosis

The approximate 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer patients in the United States (all stages included) is 65%. Survival is inversely related to stage; patients with stage I have a 95% 5-year survival rate, and those with stage III have only a 60% survival rate. For patients with metastatic, stage IV disease, the 5-year survival rate is estimated at approximately 10%.