My name is Jamie Turner and when I turned 22, I started to form a horrible case of acne. I used every cleanser and lotion I could find and I even asked my physician for a topical steroid cream to clear up the zits on my face. After six months of treatment, my physician completed a blood test that concluded that a hormone imbalance was causing my acne. I started on therapy to control the amount of estrogen my body produced. The therapy along with a good diet and exercise regimen helped to clear up my acne. I am sharing my story, because acne is not just a condition that affects teenagers. It can affect adults at any age, and it can cause a great deal of embarrassment. Don't let your acne go untreated. Read my blog instead and learn about both natural and medical treatments that can help you.
The first few days after being diagnosed with colon cancer probably leave you in a fog. You can't believe it is happening to you. While the doctor probably explained what you need to do next, it may be muddled in your head. Once you have processed the fact you have cancer, you are going to have a lot of questions. Although the information contained here is not complete, and there are many things that will affect the cancer treatment you and your doctor agree upon, here is a bit of information to get you started.
Surgery
Almost all colon cancer treatments will require some type of surgery. If the polyp was found quickly, it may not have had a chance to grow and spread. The surgeon will simply remove the polyp. However, if it is larger, or if it has attached itself to the colon wall, a section of your colon may need to be removed. You may require a colostomy bag for your solid bodily wastes. However, it may be possible for the colon to be stretched and reconnected once everything has healed and you are cancer-free.
Chemotherapy
Unless the growth is small, the oncologist may wish to have you undergo a series of chemotherapy sessions in an attempt to shrink it. The drugs are administered either by eating them or having them injected into your blood stream. You may be given the drugs at the beginning of the week and allowed to take them yourself daily. If they are going right into your bloodstream you can be fitted with an intravenous port and a small canister to pump the medicine into it. Every week you will need to go and have a new canister connected. You may also have to have chemotherapy after surgery to make sure all the cancer cells are dead or gone. This will reduce the chance of it coming back in the future.
Radiation
Radiation may be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy to help kill the cancer cells and reduce the size of the tumor. This is done before any surgery. It is very rarely used after the surgery the way chemotherapy is used. Unlike chemotherapy, you will need to go to the clinic, lab, or hospital to have the treatments. Your oncologist will determine how often you need to go, but do not be surprised if it is every weekday.
Having cancer is scary. Unfortunately, the treatments can be just as scary and have pretty nasty side effects. It is important that you do exactly as the doctors tell you to do. Because of the seriousness of the disease and the treatments, it is highly advised that you get a second opinion. Be sure to seek out help from friends and relatives and try to stay positive. Each step of your treatment brings you closer to recovery.
Share5 October 2017
