The following describes treatments for colorectal cancer. For specific information regarding your health and medical care options, please contact your Hurley physician or medical professional.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment Options

The treatment of colorectal cancer is a key area of research for many scientists and physicians. At Hurley Medical Center, we regularly employ the latest technologies and options in cancer treatment in order to improve the lives of patients and their families during treatment, and to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes and a return to full health.

New Treatments

One example of a new treatment protocol is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC). This new methodology is particularly useful in treating cancers that have spread or metastasized from the primary colorectal cancer to other tissues lining the abdominal cavity. Such cancers are often very difficult to treat using traditional chemotherapy. Before beginning hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion, the surgeon will physically remove all tumors that can be seen or have been identified in the colon or rectum. Then, while the patient is still in the operating room, the solution, or liquid, containing the chemotherapy will be heated to a temperature greater than normal body temperature and delivered directly into the abdominal cavity. This allows the chemotherapy solution to access parts of the abdomen that might have been unreachable by other methods.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

For other cancers, minimally invasive surgery may provide an effective approach to physical removal of the cancer. Using a laparoscope, a small tube with a lens on the end, the surgeon can enter the bowel through a small incision and remove the cancerous tumors and tissue. This form of surgery typically results in less post-operative pain and scarring, reduced need for pain medication, a quicker return to normal bowel function, and better cosmetic results.