Colorectal cancer is any cancer that is found in the colon or rectum.
Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together and called colorectal cancer. While they have many similarities, including their location in the large intestine, treatments for both types of cancers can actually be quite different, especially in early stages.
That's why it's important to seek care from an experienced team of colorectal cancer specialists, including gastroenterologists, oncologists, and surgeons who have experience diagnosing and treating these types of cancers. At MedStar Health, we perform a high number of colorectal cancer surgeries, making us one of the most experienced teams in the region. From minimally invasive robotic surgeries to anal sphincter-preserving procedures, our colorectal surgeons have decades of experience in removing cancer while preserving quality of life, including bowel movement and sexual function.
And because we work as a team with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, and other specialists focused exclusively on treating patients with gastrointestinal cancers, you can expect personalized and comprehensive treatments that considers all of your physical and emotional needs and goals. In fact, your colorectal care often begins before a diagnosis, especially if you are at high risk. With the help of our board-certified genetic counselors and specialists in our Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program, we can help you manage and lower your risk of the disease long before you develop symptoms.
Types of colorectal cancer
Colon cancer
The large intestine comprises of the colon which absorbs water and then passes the stool to the rectum for storing till one’s ready to evacuate the stool with a bowel movement. Typically, cancer in the colon begins as a precancerous polyp that eventually becomes cancer over time. When caught early, it's highly treatable. It's also a preventable cancer, as doctors can remove precancerous polyps during a regular screening via colonoscopy.
We primarily treat this type of cancer with surgery using minimally invasive options such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery. These approaches offer several benefits over traditional surgery, including smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. Some patients benefit from chemotherapy before and/or after surgery, which can help to shrink the tumor or prevent recurrence.
Rectal Cancer
The rectum makes up the last few inches of the large intestine and the lowest part of the digestive system. Like colon cancer, rectal cancer can develop from polyps, or abnormal growths, that may begin in the rectum. These polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy to potentially prevent the disease altogether.
If cancer develops in the rectum, surgery is typically the main treatment option. Some patients benefit from radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy in addition to surgery, especially if the tumor is growing through the wall of the rectum and extending into the nearby organs and lymph nodes. Because the rectum is located in a tight space and surrounded by other organs, like the bladder, uterus (women), and prostate (men), surgery can be more complex.
At MedStar Health, our surgeons are skilled at performing minimally invasive surgeries to treat rectal cancer, especially techniques that often spare the anal sphincter and thus your ability to use the restroom naturally without fecal incontinence. As a result, the majority of our patients do not need a permanent colostomy bag following surgery.
Looking for expert cancer care?
With multiple locations throughout the region, patients have access to many of the nation’s renowned cancer specialists offering high quality care, second opinions and a chance for better outcomes close to where they live and work. Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the nation’s comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), serves as the research engine allowing patients access to clinical trials that often lead to breakthroughs in cancer care.
Our providers
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Colon and Rectal Surgery
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Preetha Ali, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Brian Lim Bello, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Sara E. Berkey, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Anne Chin Fabrizio, MD MDDO
Colon And Rectal Surgery, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gastroenterology & General Surgery
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Philip Jeffrey Ferris, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Michael Anton Gillespie, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Andrea Greetham, AGACNP-BC ND
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Vinay Kumar Gupta, MD
Surgical Oncology & General Surgery
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David Michael Lisle, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery, Family Medicine, General Surgery & Gender Affirming Care
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Edward C. McCarron, MD
Surgical Oncology & General Surgery
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Caitlin Moore, MPAS PA
General Surgery, Anesthesiology & Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Marcus Oosenbrug, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Tushar Satish Samdani, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Sherief Shawki, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Zhifei Sun, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Steven Wexner, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & Surgical Oncology
Show All Colon and Rectal Surgery
Medical Oncology
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Behzad Doratotaj, MD
Hematology, Hematology and Oncology, Geriatric Medicine & Medical Oncology
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Benjamin Adam Weinberg, MD
Medical Oncology, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Hematology & Hematology and Oncology
Show All Medical Oncology
Our locations
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MedStar Franklin Square Cancer Center at Loch Raven Campus
5601 Loch Raven Blvd. Russell Morgan Building Ste. 103 Baltimore, MD 21239
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus
12 MedStar Blvd. Ste. 180 Bel Air, MD 21015
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9103 Franklin Square Dr. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Cancer Institute Suite 2200 Baltimore, MD 21237
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
25500 Point Lookout Rd. First Fl. Leonardtown, MD 20650
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Washington, D.C., 20010
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital
7501 Surratts Rd. Ste. 101 Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW Washington, DC 20007
MedStar Health: MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center
18105 Prince Philip Dr. TG100 Olney, MD 20832
Podcast
S4:E6 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: What to Know
Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in men and women combined? March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. On this episode of our DocTalk podcast, we’re discussing colon cancer. Dr. Priyanka Kanth, the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital talks about every aspect of colon cancer from symptoms, stages, causes, and treatment.
Having accurate facts about colon and rectal cancer is very important. Whether you're reporting on a story, doing a homework assignment, or raising awareness with family, it is important to know the colon cancer signs, symptoms and risk factors.
Dr. Kanth sees patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.
For an interview with Dr. Priyanka Kanth, or for more information about this podcast, contact MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Manager Media Relations, Ryan.M.Miller2@medstar.net.
Learn more about Dr. Kanth