Colectomy with colostomy

In some cases, after the surgeon removes part of the colon, it may be necessary to connect the upper part of the colon to the outside, a procedure called colostomy. 

This is often temporary. The aim is to allow non-cancerous tissues to recover from the damage inflicted by the treatments (surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy). 

Once they recover, a new operation reverses the colostomy joining the two ends of the colon together.

If the surgeon needs to remove the entire lower colon to treat the cancer, and it is not possible to connect the upper colon to the anus, then the colostomy may be permanent.