Colorectal Cancer
State-of-the-art colorectal cancer treatment
Holy Cross Health Cancer Center is your destination for state-of-the-art colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment. Colorectal cancer is any cancer that is found in the colon or rectum and it is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States. Thanks to improvements in screening, diagnosis and treatment, survival rates for colorectal cancer are improving.
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 are 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. The renowned team of specialists at the Holy Cross Health Cancer Center provide the latest treatments for colon and rectal cancers, including minimally invasive robotic surgery that allows for the removal of tumors while preserving normal bowel function.
Types of rectal cancer
The most common type of Rectal Cancer is an adenocarcinoma, which develops from a polyp in the lining of the rectum. Other rare types may include:
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors is a rare cancer which develops in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and can form in the rectum.
- Rectal leiomyosarcoma where the tumor begins in the layers of muscle in the rectum.
- Colorectal lymphoma, which commonly develop in the lymph nodes but can begin in the rectum.
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which is an inherited syndrome that can cause hundreds to thousands of polyps in the rectum or colon.
Types of colon cancer
We used to treat colorectal cancer universally as the same type of cancer. Now, with the help of tumor DNA profiling, we know there are significant differences in tumors that come from the right side of the colon (closer to the liver), the left side of the colon (closer to the rectum), and the rectum itself. These distinctions are important because they impact how effective treatments may be for patients with advanced disease.
Colorectal Cancer Patient Story
“The Holy Cross Cancer team is always clear with me about how my care is working. My plan is customized for my needs, and they are not afraid to make adjustments for the best results.”
Tyrone H.
Colorectal Cancer Patient