Who treats rectal cancer?
Our team of world-class gastrointestinal (GI) cancer experts supports you through every aspect of your care, working together to provide a rectal cancer care plan designed specifically for you.
- Colorectal surgeons: Specialize in conditions affecting the colon, rectum, and anus.
- Gastroenterologists: Specialize in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
- Oncologists: Treat cancer and provide medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.
- Pathologists: Work with a surgically removed sample of diseased tissue, called a biopsy.
- Radiation oncologists: Oversee the care of cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment.
Rectal cancer treatment options
Treatment for rectal cancer depends on the size and location of the tumor in the rectum, and how far the tumor may have spread. Your Penn Medicine team will recommend treatment therapies based on the latest cancer research and innovations, including proton therapy (a specialized radiation therapy). Your doctor may also recommend options like monoclonal antibody therapy, available only through ongoing clinical trials.
We may also use genetic and molecular testing to tell us important details about how cancer cells behave, including which treatments may be most effective at treating the cancer you have.
We offer these rectal cancer treatment options.
Types of rectal cancer surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for rectal adenocarcinoma and other types of rectal cancer. Our experienced surgeons perform complex rectum cancer surgeries (including sphincter preservation) to remove hard-to-treat tumors. Minimally invasive and robotic techniques enable us to remove rectal tumors while saving healthy tissue, helping you retain more bowel function and preserving quality of life.
We provide comprehensive rectal cancer surgery options.
A polypectomy is a surgical procedure to remove early-stage tumors and precancerous polyps, which are abnormal tissue growths that can form in the lining of the colon or rectum. These procedures can be done during colonoscopies.
Also called a local transanal resection, doctors access the cancer through special instruments that go into the rectum through the anus. During this procedure, surgeons cut layers of the rectal wall to remove early-stage cancers.
This procedure is for early-stage cancers that are too high in the rectum for TAE. Our skilled surgeons remove these tumors with great precision and accuracy using special magnifying scopes and equipment.
This minimally invasive procedure removes the tumor, the bowel it was in, and surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. This technique uses a special camera that allows surgeons to see the tumor without making a large incision.
Doctors use this procedure to treat stage I, II, or III rectal cancers in the upper part of the rectum. They remove the part of the rectum that contains the tumor.
During proctectomy, doctors remove the entire rectum to treat stage I, II, or III rectal cancers in the middle or lower third of the rectum.
Doctors use abdominoperineal resections to remove stage I, II, or III rectal cancers in the lower part of the rectum, or tumors that may be growing into the sphincter muscle. It involves removal of the anus, rectum, part of the colon, and sometimes some lymph nodes.
This major surgery involves removing the rectum and any affected nearby organs, including the bladder, prostate, or uterus.
GI cancer program: Getting nutritional support during treatment
Rectal cancers that occur in the digestive tract (GI cancers) can have wide-ranging impacts on your life. We have pioneered nutritional support for gastrointestinal cancer patients, a crucial part of care and recovery.
As part of our Gastrointestinal Cancer program, we offer nutrition counseling by registered dietitian nutritionists for all patients treated for rectal cancer. Our dietitians have a unique understanding of GI cancers and treatments to help you manage how cancer may affect your diet, digestion, or how you eat. Throughout treatment, a well-balanced nutrition plan can improve tolerance and response to therapy and promote recovery.
If your rectal cancer treatment plan includes surgery, you may benefit from our Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation (CARE) Clinic. Nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and other professionals work as a team to optimize your health before surgery. They tackle a multitude of factors, including diet and lifestyle habits, to set you up for a successful surgery and recovery.
Comprehensive rectal cancer follow-up care
Our team develops a follow-up plan to protect your health after treatment ends. Regular rectal cancer screenings and check-ins with your doctor can help us detect a cancer recurrence or other concern early.
We have a dedicated program tailored to GI cancer patients who have had radiation therapy. An advanced nurse practitioner meets with you regularly to identify and help you manage any long-term radiation side effects, such as bowel and bladder problems.
Rectal cancer support services
Cancer treatment can bring about both physical and emotional changes. We offer a wide range of cancer support services, from counseling, support groups, and educational materials, to integrative oncology services, palliative care, and home care and hospice services.
Rectal cancer treatment: Why choose Penn Medicine
Our doctors regularly treat gastrointestinal cancers like rectal cancer, which helps us diagnose and treat this disease with expert precision. And Penn Medicine specialists follow the latest developments in all types of rectal cancer care. This means you have access to more options like clinical trials and specialized treatment that’s not widely available elsewhere.
You’ll have a treatment plan that’s highly personalized to your needs—a result of our team-based approach to cancer care. We have regular meetings (called tumor boards) that enable doctors with different areas of expertise to collaborate easily. No matter what challenges cancer treatment creates in your life, our oncology nurse navigators will be there to support you by scheduling appointments and connecting you to resources you’ll need during treatment.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.