A low anterior resection (LAR) is a common surgery for colorectal cancer.
In this procedure, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of the rectum and the sigmoid colon. Some lymph nodes and surrounding tissue are also removed.
Your surgeon may perform your colectomy as anopen surgery, laparoscopic surgery, or robotic-assisted surgery.
The technique will depend on:
Some LAR surgeries do not require a stoma if the surgeon is able to connect the two ends of the colon together. The part of the colon that is joined is called an anastomosis.
However, because this surgery takes place so deep in the pelvis, patients may be at a higher risk of anastomotic leaks and fecal incontinence.
To reduce the risk, your surgeon may create a temporary ostomy to divert fecal matter away from the newly created anastomosis.
After left hemicolectomy surgery:
Risks of any surgery depend on several factors, including your overall health and the extent of the surgery.
Rectal cancer patients are also at increased risk of developing low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), a collection of symptoms ranging from fecal incontinence with frequency and urgency to constipation and incomplete emptying.
Other problems are rare but can include:
The treatment option is for patients with KRASG12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) who have received prior treatment with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy.
Statistics suggested that Christy’s odds of survival were grim, so she leaned into her faith and kept a positive outlook. She tried to control what she could. And, critically, she received biomarker testing.
The EPIC Act would encourage investment in clinical trials for additional uses of existing drugs.