Cancer of the large intestine (colon and rectum) is an aggressive cancer that may be associated with difficulty having bowel movements, bleeding, bloating, and pain. It requires a coordinated treatment plan that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. It is very important that the proper lymph node surgery be combined with the colon or rectal surgery. Many patients with rectal cancer need preoperative (before surgery) chemotherapy and radiation. Many patients may be able to avoid a permanent colostomy with the properly coordinated treatments.

Names of those who treat colorectal cancer:

Dr. Kelly McMasters Clinics and times USA office, 601 South Floyd, Suite 700 -- Friday mornings James G. Brown Cancer Center -- Tuesday mornings Clinic Contact: Pam Boone 583-8303
Dr. Robert Martin Clinics and times USA office, 601 South Floyd, Suite 700 -- Monday mornings James G. Brown Cancer Center -- 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons Norton Medical Plaza, Old Brownsboro Crossing -- 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons Clinic Contact: Traci Hayat 583-8303
Dr. Charles Scoggins Clinics and times USA office, 601 South Floyd, Suite 700 -- Thursday mornings James G. Brown Cancer Center -- 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons Norton Medical Plaza, Old Brownsboro Crossing -- 1st and 3rd Monday afternoons Clinic Contact: Anna Barnes 583-8303

• Resection (surgery) of the colon and rectum.
• Extended lymph node dissection.
• Laparoscopic surgery.
• Very-low anterior resection / coloanal resection (removal of very low rectal cancers with preservation of the anal muscle function and avoidance of a permanent colostomy.
• Pelvic exenteration for very advanced or recurrent rectal cancer.

• Outcomes in surgical oncology
• Cell-saver autotransfusion in surgical oncology
• Biobanking of tumor tissue for molecular research