Maintaining a Sense of Optimism When Faced With Health Challenges
- Legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, 74, shared that doctors recently drained fluid from his brain and found a small kidney mass that may be cancerous but is small enough to remove surgically. This is the latest in a series of health battles including skin and colon cancer.
- Despite multiple surgeries, radiation treatments, and ongoing recovery, Ross says he’s improving and hopes to return to the AEW announce booth for the company’s big Chicago show in September.
- Experts recommend screening begin at age 45; however, screening may start earlier if you are at higher risk. It’s best to discuss your risk of colon cancer and screening time with your doctor.
- Generally, surgery is recommended for anyone with stage one, two, or three colon cancer, though stages two and three may require both surgery and chemotherapy.
There are different types of colon cancer surgery, and the determining factor rests on the location of the tumor within the colon. - Colonoscopies are the most effective way to screen for colon cancer, according to our experts. The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
On his podcast “Grilling JR,” Ross shared that doctors drained fluid from his brain and found a small lump on his kidney.
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“If I continue to improve at the rate that I currently am — no doubt about it,” he said.
Ross has faced multiple cancer diagnoses in recent years.
He underwent colon cancer surgery last summer, telling fans afterward, “Now we begin to rehabilitate.”
In 2021, he revealed he had been diagnosed with skin cancer for the second time and went through more than 20 rounds of radiation.
By August 2023, he shared on social media that his MRIs were clear.
Expert Resources on Colorectal Cancer
- Identifying KRAS Mutations To Personalize Colon Cancer Treatment
- How Is Rectal Cancer Treated Differently Than Colon Cancer?
- Why a Tailored Approach to Colon Cancer Treatment Matters
- SurvivorNet Guide: Treating Early-Stage Colon Cancer
- Treating Stage Four Colon Cancer
- Treating a Bowel Obstruction Caused by Colon Cancer
Determining the Right Colon Cancer Surgery Option
We do not know specific details regarding Ross’ colon cancer related to where in the colon the tumor(s) were found and how advanced the cancer had become.
There are three main approaches to surgery for colon cancer: open, laparoscopic, and robotic.
Laparoscopic surgery involves making various small incisions with specialized instruments to remove the mass. The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include quicker recovery time and less pain than open surgery.
Robotic surgery involves the surgeon manipulating surgical instruments from a separate console, whereas laparoscopic surgery involves surgeons using long, specialized instruments. Robotic surgery is simply a different way of conducting minimally invasive surgery.
Open surgery, also called a colectomy, involves removing part or all of the colon. Depending on the part of the colon that is removed, several variations of the type of colectomy may be performed.
WATCH: Which treatments do doctors use to turn stage 4 colon cancer into a chronic but manageable disease?
If the tumor is located on the right side of the colon, also known as the ascending colon, then a right colectomy is performed. For tumors located in the descending colon, a left colectomy is performed.
After the colectomy procedure is performed, surgeons put the colon back together.
“The colon is very capable of accommodating that loss, and most patients don’t have any change in their bowel function or anything else once they’ve recovered,” Dr. Daniel Labow, a board-certified surgeon specializing in surgical oncology at Nuvance Health Praxair Cancer Center explained to SurvivorNet.
The sigmoid colon is a portion of the descending colon that gets its name because it has an “S” shape. In such cases, a sigmoid colectomy is performed to remove the cancer in this area.
A sub-total colectomy involves removing probably about 75% to 80% of the colon and only leaving behind just the rectum.
WATCH: Why it sometimes makes sense to give chemotherapy before surgery.
After a portion of the colon is removed, the two ends of the colon are put back together. Most patients will have some irregularity in the bowel function immediately after surgery, but this will ultimately return to normal.
In some instances, a subtotal colectomy is required, which is when the majority of the colon is removed, leaving the rectum behind. This may have a greater impact on bowel function after surgery. However, many patients can adapt to this amount of colon loss.
Helping You Recognize Signs of Colon Cancer
The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don’t have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.
Regular screening can prevent most colon cancers. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera examines the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the next screening will not be needed for about ten years.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” SurvivorNet medical advisor Dr. Heather Yeo explains.
“Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.
What are Colon Polyps?
A colon polyp is a small group of cells that forms on the colon’s lining.
When you have a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist looks for polyps inside your intestine. Although polyps can’t be felt, they can be picked up by screening tests before they cause a problem, such as colon or rectal (colorectal) cancer.
A polyp found during a colonoscopy can be removed, which can prevent the development of cancer. Almost all polyps that are removed are precancerous, meaning that they have not yet progressed to cancer.
What Goes Into a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to screen for colon cancer by looking inside your colon.
This procedure requires your colon to be “cleaned out.” To clear out your colon, your doctor will prescribe a “bowel prep,” a liquid you drink the night before the procedure. The prep acts as a laxative that causes you to have multiple loose stools before your procedure.
Once your colon is cleared, the gastroenterologist performing the procedure can have a clear look to evaluate if any polyps or masses are present.
Depending on the size and number of polyps found, it is recommended that patients undergo a repeat colonoscopy within three to five years.
WATCH: What Doctors Look for During Colonoscopies
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained the colonoscopy procedure to SurvivorNet.
“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” he explained.
“What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a flange at the end, and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So there’s no pain,” Dr. Murrell added.
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
- What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
- If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
- What support services are available to me? To my family?
- Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
