Colorectal cancer is any cancer that is found in the colon or rectum.
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 can actually be 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. At MedStar Health, we perform a high number of colorectal cancer surgeries, making us one of the most experienced teams in the region. From minimally invasive robotic surgeries to anal sphincter-preserving procedures, our colorectal surgeons have decades of experience in removing cancer while preserving quality of life, including bowel movement and sexual function.
And because we work as a team with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, and other specialists focused exclusively on treating patients with gastrointestinal cancers, you can expect personalized and comprehensive treatments that considers all of your physical and emotional needs and goals. In fact, your colorectal care often begins before a diagnosis, especially if you are at high risk. With the help of our board-certified genetic counselors and specialists in our High-Risk Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention program, we can help you manage and lower your risk of the disease long before you develop symptoms.
Types of colorectal cancer
Colon cancer
The colon is the longest part of the large intestine. Its job is to absorb water before passing stool to the rectum. Typically, cancer in the colon begins as a non-cancerous polyp that eventually becomes cancer over time. When caught early, it's highly treatable. It's also the most preventable, as doctors can remove precancerous polyps during a regular screening via colonoscopy.
We primarily treat this type of cancer with surgery using minimally invasive options such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery. These approaches offer several benefits over traditional surgery, including smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. Some patients benefit from chemotherapy before and/or after surgery, which can help to shrink the tumor or prevent recurrence.
Rectal cancer
The rectum makes up the last few inches of the large intestine and the lowest part of the digestive system. Like colon cancer, rectal cancer can develop out of polyps, or abnormal growths that may begin in the rectum. These polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy to potentially prevent the disease altogether.
If cancer develops in the rectum, surgery is typically the main treatment option. Some patients benefit from radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy in addition to surgery, especially if the tumor is growing through the wall of the rectum or to nearby organs and lymph nodes. Because the rectum is located in a tight space and surrounded by other organs, like the bladder, uterus (women), and prostate (men), surgery can be more complex.
At MedStar Health, our surgeons are skilled at performing minimally invasive surgeries to treat rectal cancer, as well as techniques that spare the sphincter and your ability to use the restroom naturally. As a result, the majority of our patients do not need a permanent colostomy bag following surgery.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
Colon and Rectal Surgery
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Preetha Ali, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Brian Lim Bello, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Sara E. Berkey, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Nicole Chaumont, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Anne Chin Fabrizio, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Philip Jeffrey Ferris, MD
General Surgery & Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Michael Anton Gillespie, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery & General Surgery
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Vinay Kumar Gupta, MD
Surgical Oncology
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Chukwuemeka U Ihemelandu, MD
Surgical Oncology
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David Michael Lisle, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Edward C. McCarron, MD
Surgical Oncology
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Tushar Satish Samdani, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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David E Stein, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Zhifei Sun, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Erin Teeple, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
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Francesco Grasso, MD
Colon And Rectal Surgery
Medical Oncology
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Ravi Krishnan Anandakrishnan, MBBS
Medical Oncology
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Kevin Y. Chen, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Medical Oncology & Hematology Oncology
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Behzad Doratotaj, MD
Hematology Oncology
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Rumaisa Hameed, MD
Hematology Oncology
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Aiwu Ruth He, MD,PhD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
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Hima Bindu Lingam, MD
Hematology Oncology
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Ankit Madan, MD
Hematology & Medical Oncology
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John Lindsay Marshall, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Medical Oncology
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Kathan D Mehta, MBBS, MPH
Hematology Oncology
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Reetu Mukherji, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Hematology Oncology
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Marcus Smith Noel, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
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Charles A. Padgett, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Medical Oncology
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Nora Rose Sudarsan, DO
Hematology Oncology
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Anteneh A Tesfaye, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Hematology Oncology
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Benjamin Adam Weinberg, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Hematology Oncology
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Louis M. Weiner, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology & Medical Oncology
Radiation Oncology
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Luther Lorenzo Ampey, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Katherine S Chen, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Andrew Satinsky, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Keith R. Unger, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Paul Byron Fowler, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Kelly E. Orwat, MD
Radiation Oncology
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Stephen Krystjan Ronson, MD
Radiation Oncology
Gastroenterology
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Bilal Ali, MD
Hepatology & Gastroenterology
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Ghassan Abdullah Alzayer, MD
Gastroenterology
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Nikiya O Asamoah, MD
Gastroenterology
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John E Carroll, MD
Gastroenterology
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Samer Charbel, MD
Gastroenterology
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David B. Doman, MD
Gastroenterology
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Priyanka Kanth, MD, MS
Cancer Genetics & Gastroenterology
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Thomas Michael Loughney, MD
Gastroenterology
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Raena S. Olsen, DO
Gastroenterology
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Caren S. Palese, MD
Gastroenterology
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Stanley James Pietrak, MD
Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology
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Mark Real, MD
Gastroenterology
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Danny T. Shearer, MD
Gastroenterology
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Ira Shocket, MD
Gastroenterology
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Dana Arlease Sloane, MD
Gastroenterology
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Anusha Vittal, MD
Gastroenterology
Our locations
Distance from Change locationEnter your location
MedStar Franklin Square Cancer Center at Loch Raven Campus
5601 Loch Raven Blvd. Russell Morgan Building First Floor Baltimore, MD 21239
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus
12 MedStar Blvd. Ste. 180 Bel Air, MD 21015
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
9103 Franklin Square Dr. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Cancer Institute Suite 220 Baltimore, MD 21237
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
25500 Point Lookout Rd. First Fl. Leonardtown, MD 20650
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Washington, D.C., 20010
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital
7501 Surratts Rd. Ste. 101 Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
3800 Reservoir Rd. NW Washington, DC 20007
Podcast
S4:E6 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: What to Know
Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in men and women combined? March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. On this episode of our DocTalk podcast, we’re discussing colon cancer. Dr. Priyanka Kanth, the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital talks about every aspect of colon cancer from symptoms, stages, causes, and treatment.
Having accurate facts about colon and rectal cancer is very important. Whether you're reporting on a story, doing a homework assignment, or raising awareness with family, it is important to know the colon cancer signs, symptoms and risk factors.
Dr. Kanth sees patients and families with high risk for gastrointestinal cancers at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Her area of special interest and expertise is gastrointestinal cancer, especially hereditary colon cancer and colon cancer prevention.
For an interview with Dr. Priyanka Kanth, or for more information about this podcast, contact MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Manager Media Relations, Ryan.M.Miller2@Medstar.net.
Learn more about Dr. Kanth