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			| Bowel Resection for Colorectal CancerAnatomy of the colon and rectumslide 1 of 5     slide 1 of 5, Anatomy of the colon and rectum, The colon and rectum are the last parts of the bowel
		(intestine). The bowel extends from the opening where food leaves the stomach
		to the opening where feces leave the body (anus). The bowel helps to process
		food, absorb nutrients and water, and get rid of waste. 
		Colon cancer siteslide 2 of 5     slide 2 of 5, Colon cancer site, Cancer is shown in a section of the descending
		colon.Bowel section removedslide 3 of 5     slide 3 of 5, Bowel section removed, Resection is another name for any operation that removes
		tissue or part of an organ. Bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, for
		colorectal cancer removes the tumor and part of the colon or rectum around the
		tumor. Both ends of the bowel section being removed are stapled and cut. Nearby
		lymph nodes, lymph drainage channels, and blood vessels are also
		removed.Bowel reattachedslide 4 of 5     slide 4 of 5, Bowel reattached, The remaining ends of the bowel are reattached, either
		end-to-end, side-to-side, or side-to-end.Surgery scarsslide 5 of 5     slide 5 of 5, Surgery scars, If you have laparoscopic surgery, you will have 3 to 6 small
		scars. An example is in the picture on the left. Your surgeon may make 1 or 2
		of the small openings a little bigger to allow space to complete the procedure.
		If so, those scars will be a little longer than the others. If you have an open
		resection, you will have one long scar. An example is in the picture on the
		right.ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
 Specialist Medical ReviewerKenneth Bark, MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Current as of:
                May 3, 2017Author:
          Healthwise Staff  Medical Review:
          E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Kenneth Bark, MD - General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery |  |  |  |  |  |