Open Surgery vs. Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

Which is the Better Treatment Option?

Research published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology compared two treatment options for people with stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer. The first was open surgery, the conventional method where a surgeon opens your abdomen and removes the cancerous part of the colon using a scalpel. The second was laparoscopic surgery, a less invasive method that allows surgeons to remove the cancerous part of the colon using small incisions, a tiny camera, and thin instruments.

Results of the Study

To make the comparison, researchers examined recurrence data for 286 people who had received either open surgery or laparoscopic surgery for left-sided stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer. The results: There was no difference in recurrence rate for the two surgeries. According to the study, laparoscopic surgery cost more and took about 40 minutes longer than open surgery, but wound size was significantly smaller, patients reported less pain, and their hospital stay was shorter.

If you fit into the specific category of having left-sided stage 2 or stage 3 colon cancer, you may want to talk to your oncologist about laparoscopic surgery as a treatment option.

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_Sources:

1. "Laparoscopic Surgery a Good Alternative for Some Colon Cancer Patients." National Cancer Institute. Accessed 15 Feb. 2007 [http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/laparoscopic-colectomy0604].
   
2. Liang, J. and Huang, K. "Oncologic Results of Laparoscopic Versus Conventional Open Surgery for Stage II or III Left-Sided Colon Cancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Annals of Surgical Oncology 14.1 (Jan. 2007): 109-117. SpringerLink. Accessed 15 Feb. 2007.