Colorectal Cancer Surgery

World-Class Colorectal Surgery

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) colon and rectal surgeons have advanced training and vast experience in colorectal surgery. Our goal is to always perform a safe, comprehensive surgery that removes all of the colorectal cancer, without leaving any cancerous cells behind. Our surgeons will do everything possible to reconnect your bowel in order to avoid a permanent ostomy bag (a bag that collects stool).

In most cases, the first step of colorectal cancer treatment is surgery. Many people need additional treatments after the surgery, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. 

Types of Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Surgery for colon cancer can either be an extended procedure through a large opening, or laparoscopic, which uses small incisions. BIDMC surgeons have earned national recognition for our technical proficiency and experience in laparoscopic colectomy. During this minimally invasive operation, we remove part of the large intestine to treat cancer.

Laparoscopic colectomy is one of the more technically challenging procedures in the field of surgery because the colon is not a fixed target. Still, most people are candidates for laparoscopic colectomy — with excellent outcomes at BIDMC — due to our surgical expertise and the high number of procedures we perform. Our vast experience means better care for you.

Compared to traditional, open procedures, studies show many benefits of laparoscopic colectomy:

• Better pain control
• Decreases your risk for developing a hernia or bowel obstruction after surgery
• Quicker recovery

Surgery for Rectal Cancer

If you have rectal cancer, your treatment in our Rectal Cancer Clinic typically includes some combination of sphincter-sparing and minimally invasive surgery, state-of-the-art chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

We are especially skilled and highly experienced at performing minimally invasive surgery with sphincter-sparing technique for rectal cancer. In sphincter-sparing surgery, surgeons remove the cancerous part of the rectum but keep intact the anus sphincter (circular muscle that controls bowel movements). Sphincter-sparing surgery preserves normal bowel function.

BIDMC surgeons are noted for our expertise at removing the cancerous section of the rectum, and reconnecting the healthy portions, without creating an opening through the abdomen into the rectum for body waste to exit (called a colostomy). Most people do not need a colostomy after surgery for rectal cancer.