If you are facing a colorectal cancer diagnosis, you need to have as much information as possible at your fingertips before seeking out Anchorage colorectal cancer treatment. That way, you will know exactly what to expect and which questions you need to ask to make sure your doctor understands your whole healthcare picture and the complications that any given procedure will introduce. One of the first pieces of information you need is a comprehensive list of the stages and types of colorectal cancer.
POLYPS AND PRECANCEROUS CONDITIONS
Most of the time, these cancers are detected as precancerous conditions called polyps. Polyps come in two types:
- Adenomas, which are the type that typically turn into cancer. They are not always cancerous, but removal is a good idea as prevention
- Hyperplastic or inflammatory polyps, which generally do not turn into cancer. They may be removed to help with general health, but they are not necessarily dangerous
It’s also important to know about another condition, called dysplasia. This happens when there is an area in either a polyp or in the colon itself with abnormal cells. They do not usually look like regular cancer cells, but they do have a tendency to change into cancer.
FINDING YOUR CANCER TREATMENT
If you have been diagnosed with any of these three conditions, it is a good idea to seek a second opinion through your Anchorage cancer center. That way, you can be sure you will have the right information and the right treatment plan to give yourself the best possible outcomes.
If you can head cancer off early, you can avert the need for many of the more invasive procedures that many patients associate with treatment, giving yourself a better quality of life and a better route to recovery.