Colorectal cancer is a disease that can be managed if detected early and prevented if premalignant polyps are removed through colonoscopy. Patients who receive colorectal cancer care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering may receive surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or ablation as part of a personalized treatment regimen. And because many of our physicians are also clinical investigators, patients also have access to clinical trials evaluating new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention approaches for this disease.
Our experts include specialists in surgery, gastroenterology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, clinical genetics, oncology nursing, and nutrition. We offer the most advanced surgical and minimally invasive options not only to eradicate the disease, but to preserve patients' ability to function normally.
Our research also helped establish the effectiveness of the anticancer drugs irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab, which are now all part of the standard of care for patients who need chemotherapy as part of their colorectal cancer treatment. Patients whose disease has spread to the liver benefit from a comprehensive program that includes specialists in colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary (liver) surgery, interventional radiology radiation therapy and medical oncology who work together to maximize long-term survival.
Although a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering we know that a patient's life isn't just about cancer. Every cancer patient is in a unique situation, facing the disruptions that the disease and its treatment can cause. Before, during, and after treatment, resources are available to help patients and their families meet these challenges.
