Colon Cancer Treatment

The first line of treatment for colon cancer is often the removal of the cancerous portion of the colon (or large intestine). Depending on its extent within the colon and whether it has spread outside the colon, other therapies, such as chemotherapy or radiation, may also be recommended.

At the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC), our faculty physicians — surgeons, oncologists and gastroenterologists — work together in multidisciplinary teams to provide individualized care for our patients with colorectal cancer.

Colon Cancer Surgery

The type of surgery typically depends on the stage at which the cancer is detected and your overall health.

Early-Stage Colon Cancer Treatment

• Removal during colonoscopy - When contained within a polyp, cancer cells may be removed during a colonoscopy. If it is within a larger polyp, your doctor may use special tools and remove a small amount of the inner lining of the colon.
• Laparoscopic surgery - When a polyp is too large for your doctor to remove it during colonoscopy, a surgeon can remove it with a minimally invasive procedure that requires only small incisions in the abdomen and uses a camera and small surgical tools.

Surgery for Advanced Colon Cancer

Large bowel resection, also known as partial colectomy, is the surgical removal of the diseased portion of the colon. After removal, the surgeon sews the two healthy ends of the colon back together and closes the incision.

This procedure may be:

• Open surgery - The surgeon removes the diseased tissue through one long incision in the abdomen.
• Laparoscopy - The surgeon makes multiple cuts and inserts a tiny camera and surgical instruments through them. The surgeon is able to work the instruments by viewing the colon on a monitor.
• Robot-assisted laparoscopy - In this procedure, the surgeon controls surgical instruments attached to a robot.

Related Surgeries

To spare the colon from its normal digestive work while it heals, your surgeon may make a temporary opening of the colon into the abdominal wall. This is, called a colostomy. A removable bag attaches to the colostomy, and stool then passes into the bag.

Colostomies are often temporary. For some patients, a later operation can be performed to close them. If a large portion of the bowel is removed or the colon is too diseased to be reconnected, the colostomy may be permanent.

When possible, our surgeons also perform sphincter preservation surgery for rectal cancer. This improves quality of life by preserving the ability to void naturally.

Chemotherapy and Radiation

While surgery is usually the first option for colon cancer, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have their place in treating colon cancer.

These treatments are sometimes used to shrink the tumor before surgery. Sometimes, patients need chemotherapy after surgery, especially if the cancerous area was large or has spread.

At UMGCCC, our surgical team together with your radiation oncology and medical oncology teams with the goal of providing you with the best possible outcome.

teams work toward the best possible outcomes.