A doctor will perform a physical examination, review symptoms with the patient and perform testing for colorectal cancer that can
include:
- Testing for blood in the stool
- Colonoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- X-rays
- CT scans
If initial testing indicates the presence of colon-rectal cancer, treatment may include:
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) to determine if cancer has spread
- Surgery to remove the cancerous growth
- Laparoscopic surgery when appropriate for select colon cancer patients
- SIR-Spheres (Selected internal radiation therapy) for patients with primary colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and failed
to respond to chemotherapy.
- Colonic stenting to open obstructions in the colon from the tumor; may prevent the need for colostomies in certain situations
- Total Mestenteric Excisional Surgery – state-of-the-art treatment for rectal cancer
- Colostomy, surgery to divert a piece of the colon to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall to bypass the damaged part of the colon.
Colostomies can be either temporary or permanent.
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
For additional information on programs, services and locations, download and print the following PDFs:
St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Program Guide
St. Luke’s Infusion Centers Guide
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