Treatments for Colon & Rectal Cancer

Our priority during the treatment is to prevent the spread of cancer to organs outside of the gastrointestinal tract. We prioritize  seeing patients diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer quickly in order not to delay treatments. We often conduct surgery to remove the cancerous tumors on the colon/rectum as indicated. If cancer has spread to other organs, we work with a multidisciplinary team to develop a personalized treatment plan. 

In the case of most early colon cancers, we are able to surgically remove the portion of colon that contains the cancer and then reattach healthy colon so you can resume bowel movements. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, you may also require chemotherapy. Our physicians at Huntington Cancer Center, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, will help you with these decisions. 

In the case of rectal cancer, we perform a removal of the involved rectum, along with the affected lymph nodes. Surgery is often in  conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. The physicians at Huntington Cancer Center all work together to coordinate the best plan for you. Most rectal cancer surgeries can be sphincter-sparing, preserving the anal sphincter’s function  and allowing you to retain the ability to perform bowel movements post-surgery. Rarely in the situation of a rectal cancer that involves the sphincters, will we perform a colostomy.   

Davinci Robotic Surgery Minimizes Your Surgical Risk and Improves Recovery 

Our colorectal surgical program specializes in robotic surgery. We use the state-of-the-art DaVinci robotic surgical system to perform surgeries to treat both colon and rectal cancer in Pasadena. 

The DaVinci system provides our surgeons with a close-up 3D view of the treatment site, allowing us to customize the surgery to suit your individual needs. The instruments can be controlled using a specialized control pad. The surgical instruments mimic the human hand’s movement, thereby limiting any risk during the surgery and offering the most targeted results. 

The DaVinci system comes with a cutting-edge patient cart that makes available the right instruments, in response to our surgeons’ real-time hand movements and surgical needs. The system’s specialized vision feature facilitates the smooth operation of the DaVinci system, ensuring the best surgical outcomes. 

This cutting-edge system is designed to allow the patient to recovery quickly while also removing the cancer. Our surgeons understand the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and we do everything in our power to make the surgical experience as comfortable for you as possible.