The third most common cancer in American men and women, colorectal cancer is a sneaky disease with few symptoms and challenging outcomes. However, regular screenings and the help of experts like those at the Digestive Health Institute can make a tremendous difference in successfully diagnosing and treating the disease.
Not only does our team of board-certified colorectal surgeons possess advanced skills and experience, we collaborate with some of the nation’s premier experts and access ground-breaking research through the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance.
Advanced skills, the latest diagnostic tools and treatment protocols and a compassionate approach give our patients a distinct advantage when fighting colorectal cancer – all without traveling far from home.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Unfortunately, colorectal cancer has no symptoms until the disease starts to spread. At that point, you may notice such symptoms as:
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Blood in the stool or very dark stool.
- Changes in bowel habits like going more often or feeling that you can’t empty your bowels completely.
Because early-stage colorectal cancer has no symptoms, it’s recommended that everyone over age 50 have regular colonoscopy screenings to look for signs of the disease. You can start these tests at a younger age if you are at high risk of colorectal cancer.
During a colonoscopy, your specialist examines the inside of the large intestine to find and remove any polyps which are tested for signs of cancer.
If you cannot have a colonoscopy, other options are:
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT). A kit for collecting and sending stool samples to a lab for testing. If blood is detected, we suggest a follow-up colonoscopy.
- Virtual colonoscopy. Less accurate than a colonoscopy, this involves filling the colon with air and taking a special CT scan of the area. The specialist cannot remove any polyps that are found.
- Sigmoidoscopy. Performed in the doctor’s office, this test allows us to check the lower portion of the colon and rectum for polyps.
Treatment Options
If colorectal cancer is detected, your specialist will speak to you about a personalized treatment plan that involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination.
Common surgical approaches include:
- Polypectomy, in which your surgeon uses electric current from a special wire loop passed through a colonoscope to remove polyps from the colon wall.
- Local incision, a technique for removing polyps from the inner lining of the colon using tools passed through a colonoscope.
- Colectomy, partial or complete removal of the colon using laparoscopic techniques that require small incisions.
Living with the Condition
While you undergo treatment for colorectal cancer, your Digestive Health Institute team will provide an array of supportive services to keep you comfortable. This can range from behavioral health counseling to therapies and techniques for managing any side effects caused by cancer treatment or symptoms.
This is a major journey and we will travel it with you, offering our expertise and compassion when needed to help make it easier.