Colon Cancer Surgery

Before surgery typically patients are asked to eat nothing before midnight, and may need to hold certain medications before surgery. Most colon surgeries require a “bowel prep” to clean the colon before surgery.

Surgery typically takes less than three hours, and the surgeon usually utilizes a small camera, and small surgical instruments to perform the procedure. Most surgeries will be “minimally invasive” which means they are done through small incisions.

Your incisions will be closed with surgical glue, and will fall off on its own. The incisions have multiple layers of sutures that will dissolve. No heavy lifting after surgery for 4 weeks, and ok to shower after surgery.
Typically you stay in the hospital for several days, to ensure bowel function returns after surgery. Sometimes a colostomy is required, and special nurses will help train you to care for your ostomy.