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Symptoms And Treatment Of Patients With Colon Cancer

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Interventional Therapy
Nearly one-third of patients diagnosed with colon cancer have metastatic disease (disease that has spread to other parts of the body) (Colon Cancer Alliance 2015a). The most common site of spread is the liver (Colon Cancer Alliance 2015a). Patients with rectal cancer may also have metastatic disease that has spread to the liver. Ablation and embolization are interventional therapies directed at the liver to destroy cancer cells.
Ablation
This technique destroys tumors without removing them. There are several types of ablation, including:
• Radiofrequency ablation: This technique uses heat to destroy cancer cells. The physician guides a probe containing tiny electrodes through the skin into the tumor using imaging techniques, such as CT, MRI, or ultrasound. The heat generated by the electrodes destroys the cancer cells. Generally, only a local anesthetic is required for this procedure. In some cases, the physician may insert the probe through a cut in the abdomen using a laparoscope. This procedure requires general anesthesia.

• Cryosurgery: The opposite of radiofrequency ablation, cryosurgery (also called cryoablation or cryotherapy) uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells.

• Ethanol ablation: Ethanol ablation uses concentrated alcohol to destroy cancer cells. The alcohol is injected directly into the tumor.

Serious complications resulting from ablations are rare. Potential risks and side effects include abdominal pain, bleeding in the chest or

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