Colon Cancer Surgery

Most patients with colon cancer require surgery. Your surgery will be done by a surgeon who is specially trained and certified in gastro-intestinal surgery, colorectal surgery, or both. SCCA patients have surgery at University of Washington Medical Center by surgeons who provide care at both UWMC and SCCA. Your surgeon will work closely with the other doctors and members of your medical team. Generally speaking, removal of the colon cancer is undertaken if there is no spread of the cancer (metastases) to other organs.

The type of surgery you will have depends on a number of things, including your surgeon’s area of expertise, your health and weight, and what you prefer. You and your team will discuss your options and decide what is best for you.

Your surgery may be done with an incision to open the abdomen, or it may be done laparoscopically, a technique that uses smaller incisions than traditional surgery. The smaller incision means you will spend less time in the hospital and will probably be on pain medication for a shorter period of time. During your operation, your surgeon will check to see if your cancer has spread to any other organs, which will help determine the rest of your treatment.

Colectomy with anastomosis 
If your cancer is not cured by removing a polyp or polyps, your surgeon will perform a colectomy, removing the part of the colon that contains the cancer as well as a small amount of surrounding tissue. In most cases, the surgeon can then perform an anastomosis (sewing the healthy parts of the colon together). Since the colon is reconnected bowl function returns to normal or near normal.

Colectomy with colostomy
For some people, an anastomosis (reconnecting the colon) is not possible. In this case, your surgeon will remove the part of your colon containing cancer and some surrounding healthy tissue. The end of the colon is then brought to the skin and a stoma (opening) is created and attached to a colostomy bag to collect waste products.