Colon Cancer Specialist
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Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County
Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Colon and Rectal Surgeon & Minimally Invasive Surgery located in Boca Raton, FL
Over 104,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year. At Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County in Boca Raton, Florida, colon and rectal surgeon Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS, offers comprehensive treatment for colon cancer. Dr. Belizon operates with the highest level of precision using the latest minimally invasive techniques to remove polyps and prevent the spread of cancer. If you need to remove benign polyps or treat advanced colon cancer, schedule a consultation online or call the office today.
Colon Cancer Q&A
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in your colon, also known as the large intestine, the last part of your digestive tract. This type of cancer may be referred to as colorectal cancer if the cancer begins in your rectum.
Cancer often begins in polyps that grow inside the lining of the colon and rectum. Polyps are usually benign (noncancerous) initially, but over time they can turn cancerous.
While colon cancer often affects older adults, people of any age can develop it.
You may be at higher risk for this type of cancer due to:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Family history
- Existing intestinal conditions
Your lifestyle also plays a role in the development of colon cancer. If you live a sedentary lifestyle or follow a high-fat, low-fiber diet, you may be at increased risk for colon cancer.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Colon cancer may not cause any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. For this reason, it’s important that you schedule routine colon cancer screenings to identify polyps before they turn cancerous, especially if you have risk factors for the disease.
As colon cancer progresses, you may experience:
- Chronic diarrhea
- Persistent constipation
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal cramping
- Unexplained weight loss
You may also feel like your bowel never completely empties after having a bowel movement.
How is colon cancer treated?
To prevent existing polyps from turning cancerous, Dr. Belizon uses minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques to remove them. This procedure only requires small incisions to access your colon and remove the polyps.
During the procedure, Dr. Belizon uses a special scope with an attached light and camera. The camera sends real-time images of your colon to an external monitor, so he gets a clear picture of the surgical site. He inserts special surgical tools through the scope to remove polyps without damaging surrounding tissue.
For some procedures, Dr. Belizon relies on computer-assisted robotic surgical technology to remove polyps or complete other types of colon surgery to treat cancer.
To treat colorectal cancer that has progressed beyond polyps, he may perform procedures such as these:
Partial colectomy
If your colon cancer is in advanced stages, you may need a different type of surgery to remove part of your colon that has cancerous tissue. Dr. Belizon then connects the remaining segments of your colon.
Ostomy
If there’s not enough healthy tissue for a reconnection, he creates an opening in your abdominal wall that connects to a bag outside of your body. This opening allows waste to leave your body.
To destroy any remaining cancerous cells, you may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy to prevent the return or the spread of colon cancer.
To learn more about surgical treatment options for colon cancer, schedule a consultation by calling Boca Care Surgical Associates of Palm Beach County or request an appointment online today.