Colon surgery 

The most straightforward type surgery is a targeted excision of the tumor by colonoscopy.

At very early stages of cancer, the tumor can be just a polyp. In that case, removal of it during colonoscopy can be sufficient to treat the disease.

Using instruments that pass through the hollow tube of the colonoscope the polyp is cut and removed by its stem. The procedure is called polypectomy.

However, in cases where the cancer is more advanced, having invaded the walls of the colon, although no further than that, more extensive surgery is necessary.

In this procedure, called partial colectomy, the surgeon will remove not only the tumor but also several centimeters of colon around it. 

The colectomy can be done with a single incision - in an open abdomen - or using a more recent and less invasive technique  –  laparoscopy. .

Talk to your surgeon about the best strategy for your personal case.