Colorectal surgery involves the removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue.
Surgery is the most common treatment for early-stage colorectal cancer. The type of surgery that is done depends on the stage and location of the cancer.
Colorectal surgery involves the removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. This is also called a surgical resection. Cancer that can be completely removed with surgery is called resectable.
Colorectal surgery is usually performed by a general surgeon, a colorectal surgeon, or a surgical oncologist.
Typically, your surgeon will also recommend any other treatment you may need, such as chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or other therapies.
There are different types of surgeries for colorectal cancer, depending on the stage of the cancer and where it is in the colon or rectum.
The most common surgeries are:
Based on their own experience and preferences, a surgeon will recommend either:
For many cancer patients, the end of active treatment brings a new kind of dread. Scans every few months and anxious waits for results. A blood test is changing that experience for a growing number of patients.
When Helen was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer, the biggest concern for her medical team was that her cancer had spread to her liver. One type of therapy, hepatic artery infusion, offered a path forward, but there was a catch. Nobody at her hospital had ever done it before. She'd have to be first.
hrough Project Cure CRC, the Alliance is fueling bold, early-stage research with the potential to transform colorectal cancer treatment. Dr. Lisa Mielke’s groundbreaking work explores how the gut’s immune system and nerve signaling influence cancer growth—opening the door to new therapeutic approaches, including repurposed existing drugs. This is what’s possible when promising ideas get the support they need to move forward.