The Prevention and

Treatment of Colon Cancer

Arjun Luthra
Mentor: Dr. Aakash Gajjar
UTMB Multispecialty Care Center
Teachers name: Kristi Click

Some Information in this presentation comes from outside sources

Introduction
ISM Fall Semester 2015
Mentor: Dr. Aakash Gajjar, M.D.
Colorectal Surgeon
Education:
4 years of undergraduate studies
Completion of Medical School in University of Texas
Health Science Center in San Antonio
Completion of Residency at University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine
Certification: The American Board of Surgery, The
American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS)

Mentorship Site
UTMB Multispecialty Care Center

"UTMB Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes." UTMB Health -. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

What is Independent Study Mentorship

ISM is an advanced academic course that students to observe and follow a mentor,

an adult professional, of their choice

Students will receive instruction by mentor and develop a project presentation of a
specific topic within the chosen field of study
Students are expected to complete 2 mentor and 3 activity hours per week
Students are expected to complete an activity log and submit a journal entry each
week
Students develop an online portfolio that showcases their research and gathered
artifacts

Treatment and Prevention of Colon Cancer

Reason for Chosen Topic: Observation in MD Andersons Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Learning
about detection of cancer at a genetic level/mutation) motivated me to increase my knowledge of cancer
to how it is treated and can be prevented

Project Key Points:

What is colon cancer?
What are symptoms of colon cancer?
How is colon cancer diagnosed?
What is the treatment for colon cancer?
Lifestyle Habits to Reduce Development of Colon Cancer

Colon Cancer
Cancer is abnormal cell growth. Cancerous cells are
considered to have a high mitotic rate.

Precursors of Colon Cancer:

Dysplasia
Adenomatous polyps (adenomas)
Other health condition related to colon cancer is
inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohns
Disease and ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory Bowel disease is inflammation of the
colon
"Colorectal Cancer." (n.d.): n. pag. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
Picture: "Colon Polyps: Symptoms, Types, Causes and Pictures." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Cramping and abdominal pain

Change in bowel habits that last for more than few days
Rectal Bleeding

Weakness and Fatigue

Can be asymptomatic(most common presentation)
"Colorectal Cancer." (n.d.): n. pag. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Oct.
2015.

How is Colon Cancer Diagnosed

Fecal immunochemical test: Check for blood in the stool,
sign of polyps
Colonoscopy: A diagnostic procedure where a thin
lighted tube with a camera is inserted through the rectum
and goes to colon. This allows the physician to examine
inside the colon
Positron Emission Topography: A form of radioactive
sugar which is injected into the bloodstream. Sites of
cancer growth will absorb the radioactive sugar.
"Colorectal Cancer." (n.d.): n. pag. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Colonscope

Treatment for Colon Cancer

Endoscopic Resection
Surgical Resection
Systemic Therapy
Chemotherapy
Biological Therapy
"Surgery for Colon Cancer." Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 11
Oct. 2015.
Picture: Perkins, Sharon. "Complications and Side Effects of Laparoscopic Colectomy
Surgery." Suite. N.p., 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Endoscopic and Surgical Resection

Gastroenterologist or Colorectal Surgeon can resect the tumor with colonoscopy
Tumor is removed using endoscopic tools like snare
Endoscopic mucosa resection(EMR)
Surgical Resection
Laparoscopic- use of a thin, lighted tube with a tiny camera at the end
Open-When surgery is done through a local excision(cut)
Robotic: Using the da Vinci Surgical System
Removal of the segment of the colon that has cancer(colectomy)
During surgery, lymph nodes are sampled to assess whether cancer has spread
"Surgery for Colon Cancer." Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Systemic Therapy
Chemotherapy: Use of anticancer drugs that enter bloodstream and kill off cancerous
cells(Useful for cancer that has been metastasized)

Often cause hair loss

Can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and poor appetite
Affect blood forming cells of the bone marrow
Biological Therapy: Use of monoclonal antibodies
"Colorectal Cancer." (n.d.): n. pag. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Oct.
2015
Picture: "Top 10 Most Common Types of Cancer." Quantum Books. N.p., 30 Aug. 2014. Web. 11
Oct. 2015.

Stages of Colon Cancer

Final Product: Educational Pamphlet

Purpose: To educate people about colon cancer and treatment
Include Information about the diagnosis of colon cancer, treatments like
surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer, prognosis of colon cancer, how
to reduce risk of colon cancer

Fiber Chart in Pamphlet

Conclusion
I liked this study because I got the chance to really go in depth about colon cancer
and learn about how all the body can affected by it. It was interesting to learn about
the risks of certain treatments and why it is important to use treatment that is least
invasive to the patients condition.

I hope you all developed an increased awareness of colon cancer and have also
developed an understanding of how it is important to seek out treatment as well as
make lifestyle changes to reduce the prevalence of colon cancer

Questions?

Thank You
I would like to thank my mentor,
Dr. Gajjar, Mrs.Click and my
parents Dr. Gurinder Luthra and
Mrs. Bhawna Luthra for making
my independent mentorship an
invaluable experience.

Works Cited
"Colon Polyps: Symptoms, Types, Causes and Pictures." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_polyps/article.htm>
"Colorectal Cancer." (n.d.): n. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003096-pdf.pdf>
Perkins, Sharon. "Complications and Side Effects of Laparoscopic Colectomy Surgery." Suite. N.p., 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<https://suite.io/sharon-perkins/46nm26h>
"Surgery for Colon Cancer." Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Society, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/colorectal/treatment/surgery/surgery-for-coloncancer/?region=on>
"Top 10 Most Common Types of Cancer." Quantum Books. N.p., 30 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.quantumbooks.com/health/top-10-common-types-cancer>
"UTMB Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes." UTMB Health -. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.utmbhealth.com/oth/Page.asp?PageID=OTH000186>