WHAT ARE THE SURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR COLON AND RECTAL CANCERS?
Surgical removal of the tumor along with any affected surrounding tissue is the standard initial treatment for potentially curable colorectal cancers (cancers that have not spread beyond the colon or lymph nodes). Drug therapy, radiation, or both are often used for advanced cancers and are continuously being tested with surgery in different combinations and sequences. [ See sections What Are the Drug Treatments for Colon and Rectal Cancers? And What Is Radiation Treatment for Rectal Cancer?] Although choosing a qualified surgeon is critical, choosing a hospital experienced in procedures is also important. According to a 2000 study, the more often colon cancer surgery is performed at a given hospital, the lower the mortality rate at that hospital is likely to be. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate for patients treated at hospitals in the top quartile of procedure volume was 3.5%. For hospitals in the bottom quartile, mortality was 5.5%. However, the differences were small, and sign
