The type of colon cancer surgery that is most appropriate for your situation depends on many factors. Cancerous tumors in the colon grow very slowly, and if they are detected early, the disease has a high cure rate. However, early-stage colon cancer does not have any physical symptoms, so it’s difficult to become aware of the presence of colon cancer without regular screenings.

To provide the most comprehensive and effective care possible for his patients, Dr. Kamrava utilizes a variety of surgical procedures to treat colon cancer. These include advanced laparoscopic and robotic techniques that reduce scarring and recovery time. Dr. Kamrava is fellowship trained and board certified in colon and rectal surgery. The advanced care of colorectal cancers is also the focus of Dr. Kamrava’s extensive on-going research.

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Treatment Options

Colon cancer forms in the large intestine. When polyps and tumors develop along the intestinal lining and are not treated, they may develop into cancerous masses. If you are diagnosed with colon cancer, surgery to treat the disease is often the first step. Radiation or chemotherapy may also be necessary depending on the stage of your colon cancer and if it has spread to other organs.

Colon Cancer Surgeries

The three most common types of surgery for colon cancer are local excision, open colectomy, and minimally invasive colectomy.

Polypectomy and local excision can be used in cases of early-stage colon cancer. It does not involve an abdominal incision. Instead, polyps are removed through a trans-anal procedure for those found in the rectum. A colonoscope, which is used during a colonoscopy, can remove tumors from the colon.
Open colectomy is a traditional surgical procedure performed in a hospital. It is not an outpatient procedure. The surgery utilizes a single incision on the abdomen to allow access to the abdominal organs.
Minimally assisted colectomy is similar to the standard open procedure, but it is a new form of surgery that only uses a few small incisions. Dr. Kamrava performs laparoscopic surgery to provide his patients with the highest levels of care. With laparoscopic surgery, patients usually have a faster recover time and less scarring.

Rectal Cancer Surgeries

Cancer may also form in the rectum, which is the last 15 centimeters of the digestive tract. When there are polyps in rectal tissue, there are also several surgical procedures to remove the growths.

Polypectomy and local excision can also be used to remove rectal polyps that have not developed into more advanced stages of cancer.
Local transanal resection inserts instruments into the anus that will remove cancerous polyps and tissue without an external incision. Similar to polypectomy, local transanal resection can be performed as an outpatient procedure.
Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is another technique that can used to treat early-stage rectal cancer. Polyps are sometimes too high in the rectum to be removed with polypectomy or local transanal resection. This technique utilizes equipment that is specifically designed to reach the upper portion of the rectum through the anus.
Low anterior resection is a surgery for stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer that can be performed with a laparoscopic technique. To remove the advanced-stage cancer, a part of the rectum is removed and the remaining portion of the rectum is reattached to the colon.
Proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis removes the entire rectum and then connects the colon to the anus. It can also be performed laparoscopically.

Anal Cancer Surgeries

Anal cancer is less common than rectal and colon cancer. The anus is located at the end of the large intestine and is made up of the outer skin and a part of the intestine. Surgery and treatment will depend on the size, location, and stage of tumors. If the cancer is small and has not spread to other parts of the body, local resection can also be used to remove tumors in the lower part of the anus.

Colon Cancer Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

If you don’t find the answer to question about colon cancer surgery below, please feel free to contact Dr. Kamrava. Call our office at 424.279.8222 to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Q: How is colon cancer treated?

A: Standard methods for treating colon cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. If you are diagnosed with colon cancer, Dr. Kamrava will discuss the best treatment options based on your individual case.

Q: Are there different surgeries for anal, rectal, and colon cancers?

A: Cancerous tumors may grow in different locations of the large intestine, including the anus, rectum, and colon. The size, stage, and location of a tumor will help determine the most appropriate type of removal surgery.

Q: What is laparoscopic surgery?

A: Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses several small incisions rather than one large incision. It reduces complications and promotes a faster recovery time.