Understanding your upcoming colorectal cancer surgery can help you make informed decisions.
You can be your own best advocate by learning as much as possible about surgery you are having.
Talk to your doctor and care team about your surgical options, the recovery, and any post-surgery lifestyle changes you may face.
Knowing what to ask isn't always easy. We've made a list of important questions:
Ask your surgeon if they are a Board Certified Colorectal Surgeon. Studies show the recurrence rate for patients using colorectal surgeons are significantly less than using a general surgeon for colorectal cancer surgery.
It's very normal to feel anxious before surgery. Some of the more common symptoms include a pounding heart, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, and sleep problems. The Alliance offers patient and family support navigators who can help.
Do you have a two-story home or do you need to move to another bedroom for easier access after surgery? Set up this room and a bathroom before your surgery.
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.