MICHAEL LIEBERMAN, MD: Palliation, in the case of colon cancer, is typically one of three possibilities. One is obstruction, two is perforation, and three is significant bleeding. In those situations, we will be in a situation where we will recommend surgery, regardless of where the disease is.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: So it's not to cure, but to make the person feel better.
MICHAEL LIEBERMAN, MD: It could be for cure, under those scenarios. But in many times, it can be palliative, if there's metastatic disease along with the primary tumor.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: You were going to add something?
MARK POCHAPIN, MD: Just that, very often, if there's a situation where you don't think you can cure a person, surgery still may be indicated, and that's where the palliation comes in, to try and help make their symptoms better, make them feel better.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: What are the most common procedures that you perform?
MICHAEL LIEBERMAN, MD: I think, in terms of colon cancer, the conventional open procedure, or exploratory laparotomy with resection of part of the colon where the tumor's situated, and the draining lymph nodes. Recently, an exciting area of surgery has been laparoscopy, where we've been utilizing laparoscopic techniques to accomplish the same surgical principles for resection of the primary colon cancer and its draining lymph nodes that travel along the blood vessels.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: And the advantage with laparoscopy is --?
MICHAEL LIEBERMAN, MD: The potential advantage of laparoscopy, which is being investigated presently, is reducing the side effects of the surgery, and perhaps getting people back to their daily life routine faster.
