Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Preventing And Treating Colorectal Cancer

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Colorectal cancer surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for colorectal cancer. There are several types of surgical procedures, and the choice of procedure depends on the location and stage of the cancer. There are different procedures for colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Surgery serves several purposes. One, of course, is to remove the tumor. Even if the cancer has spread to other sites, removing the tumor can help prevent bowel obstruction and other complications. Another goal is to determine the cancer's stage by enabling the surgeon to see how far the cancer has spread. The surgeon will remove lymph nodes and might see abnormal growths that did not appear during the pretreatment evaluation. A tissue sample called a biopsy might be taken to establish the diagnosis. Based on these results, the doctor can determine the cancer's stage.

A significant concern for many patients is not only whether the surgery will cure the cancer but also whether it will have permanent side effects, especially the need to wear a colostomy bag to collect stool. In the past, many people who had colorectal cancer surgery required a colostomy, an operation that requires either the temporary or permanent use of a colostomy bag. But surgical techniques have improved. As a result, colorectal cancer surgery is less likely to require a colostomy. However, for the 10% of patients for whom cancer affects the anal sphincter (which is responsible for bowel continence) a colostomy is simply unavoidable (see "Coping with a colostomy").

The surgical procedures for cancer that is confined to the colon or rectum are described below. (See "Metastatic cancer" for descriptions of surgery and other treatments for cancer that has metastasized, or spread to other areas.)

Last updated:	April 09, 2009