Key Takeaways
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When colon and rectal cancer is detected early, treatment works best. This is why regular screenings are so important—to remove and prevent polyps before they advance into cancer.
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Your lifestyle plays a big role in how healthy you are. Colorectal cancer is preventable. If you eat smart and move more, you can do a whole lot to lower your chances. Work with healthcare professionals to determine specific risk factors and take steps to prevent the disease.
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Whether it’s daily treatments or a simple coffee break, St. Peter’s provides holistic cancer care with routine screenings, cutting-edge treatments, and emotional support services. Their multidisciplinary team makes sure to provide personalized treatment plans that are tailored to each individual patient’s needs.
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Advanced diagnostic technologies along with standardized staging protocols at St. Peter’s improve precision and make certain the proper treatment strategy is employed. Patients should educate themselves about staging terminology in order to be informed partners in their care.
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St. Peter’s minimally invasive and robotic-assisted colorectal surgeries lead the way in offering patients with colorectal cancer advanced surgical options. These approaches lead to shorter recovery times, less pain, and greater patient satisfaction.
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Supportive care services are essential to creating a more positive treatment and recovery experience among patients. These services intersect with nutritional guidance, pain management, and emotional counseling.
St. Peters provides specialized, state-of-the-art medical care for the unique needs of each patient. Healthcare providers in the surrounding area are committed to emphasizing early diagnosis and developing multidisciplinary treatment approaches. They are using the latest techniques like minimally invasive surgery, targeted therapies, and personalized approaches to care.
At St. Peters, skilled, specialist professionals work one-on-one with patients. Together, they map out the best treatment route, blending medical precision with enough heartfelt care to help calm each patient’s nerves. You have a right to quality services.
These services are typically comprised of screenings, diagnostic imaging, and surgical and non-surgical therapies to address every phase of cancer. This blog will explore the available treatments, local facilities, and how the community supports patients in their journey toward recovery and well-being.
Understanding Colon and Rectal Cancer
Colon and rectal cancers are the most common gastrointestinal cancers and usually start as small, benign polyps. Polypectomy Polyps are abnormal growths that develop in the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Without treatment, these polyps can start to turn into cancer over time.
Perhaps even more importantly, early detection is key to treatment, which is most effective when the cancer is diagnosed early, at a localized stage. Colorectal cancer is an important pillar of public health. Even in Montana, where overall cancer rates are low, it is still the second biggest cancer killer in men and women.
What are Colon and Rectal Cancers?
Colon cancer starts in the colon, or large intestine. Rectal cancer develops in the last part of the digestive system. Rectal cancer usually produces more local symptoms, like rectal bleeding.
Colon cancer tends to cause more generalized digestive problems. Routine screenings are an important part of your overall health. Colonoscopies—procedures that insert a long, flexible tube-equipped camera into the rectum—allow doctors to see and remove these polyps before they develop into cancer.
COVID-19 dealt an unprecedented blow to colorectal cancer screening rates. It’s especially important to increase equitable access to regular screenings among people ages 50 to 75.
Risk Factors and Prevention
In fact, lifestyle choices have a significant impact on whether or not you will develop colorectal cancer. We know that a diet heavy in red and processed meats increases risk for this cancer.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity play an equally larger role in increasing the risk of diagnosis. Being more active can help lower your risk by up to 50%!
To determine personal risk, St. Peter’s Health Partners encourages communities to visit healthcare providers for annual check-ups. They further call for KRAS testing, which helps doctors tailor chemotherapy treatments to each individual.
Recognize Early Warning Signs
Common symptoms to watch for include:
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Changes in bowel habits
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Persistent abdominal discomfort
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Blood in stool
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Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these warning signs, getting in touch with a healthcare provider as soon as possible is important. Much like breast cancer, early detection is key to saving lives.
St. Peter’s Approach to Cancer Care
At St. Peter’s, our goal is to provide each patient with holistic, individualized cancer care that fits their personal life and goals. We are committed to doing the best, and that’s why we are named a High-Performing Hospital for Colon Cancer Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
In fact, we are the proud keepers of this distinction since 2016. This distinction is a testament to our commitment to applying the latest technology and specialty experience to provide you with an exceptional result. By fostering collaboration among specialists and offering a wide spectrum of services, we ensure that each patient receives care tailored specifically to their condition.
Comprehensive Cancer Care Services
We offer everything from routine colorectal screenings to treatment for advanced cancer. These state-of-the-art technologies, including a TrueBeam linear accelerator, couple well with our burgeoning program in immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Our specialized teams include board-certified oncologists, surgeons, gastroenterologists, and interventional endoscopists, ensuring that every aspect of care is expertly managed. Physical and emotional support are integral to our holistic approach, with access to resources like clinical trials through our partnership with organizations such as the NSABP.
We offer complex procedures, such as Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) and Brachytherapy for focused treatment.
Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
Our collaborative, multidisciplinary team model strengthens patient care by uniting clinical and research experts across multiple disciplines. Whether we are providing Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) or a surgical resection, consistent communication fosters excellent coordination and flow.
This synergy fuels personalized, high-impact care plans informed by the most recent breakthroughs in medicine.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Our goal is to tailor treatments to match patient needs, cancer stages and individual preferences. By engaging them as active participants in their care, we promote shared decision-making that creates the collaborative, empowering experience every patient needs and deserves.
Diagnosing and Staging at St. Peter’s
Precise diagnosis and staging are critical first steps in creating targeted treatment plans for colorectal cancer. At St. Peter’s, a systematic and accurate process means patients are provided the most appropriate care based on the severity of their disease. The diagnosis process not only identifies cancer but provides detailed information about its spread, enabling informed decisions.
1. Advanced Diagnostic Technologies
At St. Peter’s we use the latest diagnostic technology to improve precision and accuracy. A motivated, artistically inclined gastroenterologist conducts a colonoscopy with a thin tube containing a video camera. This surgical procedure, colonoscopy, provides an opportunity for early detection of abnormalities in the colon and rectum.
With endoscopic ultrasound, we can obtain exquisite imaging and determine tumor depth as well as evaluate adjacent lymph nodes. Imaging studies including CT and MRI scans help even more to determine the extent of cancer.
With the ability to provide accurate, real-time data, these technologies help drive better outcomes for patients by allowing for early intervention. Ongoing investments at the facility safeguard access to the latest and best technologies, underscoring our mission to provide the highest quality care.
2. Comprehensive Staging Protocols
Staging is critical in guiding treatment strategies. At St. Peter’s, standardized protocols ensure consistency and accuracy. The staging process evaluates tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis (TNM classification).
Understanding staging terminology empowers patients to participate in their care decisions. For instance, KRAS mutation testing may be recommended to determine targeted treatment options. These thorough evaluations support optimal treatment planning.
3. Tailoring Treatment to Cancer Stage
Surgery is the main treatment option for patients with early-stage cancer. In the initial stages, if necessary, Dr. Bubbers will intervene surgically, either through a colon resection or colostomy.
For more advanced cases, the surgery may require resection of affected areas and lymph nodes. Staging plays an important role in predicting the effectiveness of treatment options and helps guide adaptive plans as the cancer responds to therapy.
St. Peter’s patient satisfaction has remained in the 99th percentile, a testament to the high-quality, personalized care patients have come to expect.
Treatment Options Available
When you’re in the fight against colorectal cancer, knowing what treatment options you have available can help you become a better advocate for yourself in treatment. At St. Peter’s, we offer smart, coordinated, patient-centered care that is efficient, effective and minimally invasive using surgical, medical and cutting-edge therapies.
By integrating these approaches, we aim for comprehensive outcomes that prioritize both effectiveness and quality of life for our patients.
1. Surgical Interventions Overview
Surgery is the most common treatment method for colorectal cancer, with procedures adapted to the tumor’s location and stage. For these early-stage cancers, our doctors utilize minimally invasive approaches, including laparoscopic and robotic surgeries.
Compared to traditional approaches, these techniques greatly minimize recovery time and post-operative pain. Complex cases, on the other hand, often need more extensive resections, including partial colectomies or abdominoperineal resections.
At St. Peter’s, our surgeons are some of the best AR surgeons at performing even the most complex procedures. They are supported by precision technologies, like KRAS testing, that inform their treatment decisions.
Surgery frequently offers the most optimistic prospect for remission by excising localized malignant development and conserving adjacent healthy tissue.
2. Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapies
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing cancer cell growth, usually treated with other treatments like surgery or radiation. At St. Peter’s, individualized chemotherapy regimens maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects.
Targeted therapies are a major breakthrough, working on the most molecular level to interrupt signals that support uncontrolled cancer growth. These therapies operate on very specific genetic profiles, providing an additional precision-based approach that works hand-in-hand with other proven therapies.
3. Radiation Therapy Techniques
Radiation therapy, including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), precisely targets tumors, shrinking them before surgery or eradicating remaining cancer.
Using state-of-the-art technology such as the TrueBeam linear accelerator, we increase precision and limit exposure to non-affected tissue.
4. Immunotherapy Options
Using the body’s immune system to fight colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, research and clinical trials continue to stretch the limits of immunotherapy.
Collaborative relationships with groups such as the NSABP are essential to this advancement and necessary to offer hope of more effective treatments tomorrow.
Advanced Surgical Techniques
At St. Peter’s, advanced surgical techniques are changing the face of colorectal cancer treatment. By harnessing new technologies with specialized artistry, we achieve remarkable results for our patients. Our singular focus is on improving our patients’ recovery and quality of life.
These innovations lead to less risk, quicker recovery time and most importantly, better patient outcomes.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive surgeries represent a cornerstone of our approach. With techniques involving smaller incisions, these procedures lead to quicker recovery, less scarring, and lower complication rates.
Laparoscopic surgery, for example, is a frequently used method where surgeons operate through small keyhole-sized cuts, guided by a camera. This method reduces hospital stays significantly, often allowing patients to return home within days.
Procedures like transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) are tailored for rectal cancer, offering targeted treatment with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues. Patients consistently report higher satisfaction rates, benefiting from shorter downtime and reduced discomfort.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Robotic-assisted systems have had a transformative impact in the field of colorectal cancer care. These robotic systems offer an unmatched degree of accuracy, giving surgeons like Dr. Dakwar the ability to approach intricate operations with agility and finesse.
Beyond providing a view and a degree of reach, robotic tools allow use of advanced techniques, like intersphincteric proctectomy, that can maintain sphincter function and prevent permanent ostomies. Her accuracy not only reduces pain and recovery time but provides the best outcomes possible.
Our surgeons go through regular and intense training, mastering such technologies while continuing to solidify St. Peter’s advanced reputation for surgical excellence.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols
ERAS protocols maximize post-surgery recovery using evidence-based practices. We can implement innovative multimodal pain management strategies that reduce opioid consumption and dependence.
Early mobilization will promote the healing process, and dietary changes will aid in restoring your energy. Patients are having significantly shorter hospital stays and faster returns to their normal daily routines, clearly a strong indication of the program’s success.
Supportive Care and Recovery
Supportive care plays a crucial role in ensuring that every patient undergoing treatment for colon and rectal cancer at St. Peter’s Health feels empowered and cared for throughout their journey. By addressing both physical and emotional needs, we strive to enhance the overall treatment experience and facilitate a smoother recovery process.
We offer integrated health care with an emphasis on personalized service. This enables patients to receive tools and resources uniquely suited to their individual situations.
Nutritional Guidance and Support
At St. Peter’s Health, we advocate a diet high in fiber, lean proteins and low fat. These younger generation decisions are particularly positive for patients battling colorectal cancer. Small, frequent meals may aid patients in alleviating treatment-related side effects such as nausea or fatigue.
Our experienced, compassionate nutritionists work one-on-one with patients every day. Together, they create individualized dietary strategies that align with patient preferences and treatment-related needs. While in recovery, start incorporating more cooked veggies, whole grains, and fortified drinks into your diet.
These foods will provide plenty of nourishment to restore your energy without putting stress on your recovering digestive system. These customized care plans make sure patients get the nutrition they require in order to heal and thrive.
Pain Management Strategies
Inadequately managed pain can stall recovery and decrease quality of life. We provide an extensive array of pain management therapies to relieve your suffering. Decide whether to start with medication, nerve blocks, or integrative therapies such as acupuncture.
Our providers partner with patients to develop individual pain relief strategies that are right for them. This partnership helps to keep patients as comfortable as possible during their treatment. Patients undergoing colorectal surgery are an ideal population for realizing the benefits of multimodal pain management.
This strategy of using medications to complement non-pharmacological approaches, like physical therapy, goes farther. By focusing on pain control, we’re fostering an overall more positive recovery journey.
Counseling and Emotional Support Services
Emotional well-being is just as important as physical health when it comes to cancer treatment. Coping with a new diagnosis is an emotional experience. Through our Behavioral Health program, St. Peter’s Health offers counseling services to help patients work through these feelings.
Licensed clinical therapists lead paced one-on-one and group sessions to reduce anxiety, depression and fear. They help to establish a comfortable setting which fosters honest exchanges. We connect patients with support groups where they can share experiences and find encouragement.
Supporting mental health means patients are supported at every stage of their recovery—that’s what an ASC can bring to the table.
Post-Treatment and Survivorship
For colorectal cancer patients, transitioning from active treatment to survivorship can be a sigh of relief, yet present a whole new set of challenges. As survivors navigate the complexities of life after treatment, they are unsure of what short- and long-term health effects they will face. In this stage, work towards the goal of lifelong well-being.
Ongoing medical treatment and emotional support are keys to staying in recovery and avoiding potential side effects.
Follow-Up Care Programs
Follow-up care is essential for ensuring the continued health of colorectal cancer survivors. Services typically include scheduled physical exams, colonoscopies, and imaging tests to monitor for signs of recurrence. Regular check-ups help catch potential issues early, offering the best chance for effective intervention.
Beyond medical evaluations, survivors are often provided access to nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and mental health support to address the holistic impact of cancer treatment. For example, survivors may work with dietitians to develop meal plans that promote digestive health or join support groups to connect with others navigating similar experiences.
Monitoring for Recurrence
Current surveillance strategies employ various imaging modalities, including CT scans to surveille for recurrence. They include blood tests, for example CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) levels. These tools give a big picture view of the survivor’s health, so any issues can be attended to as soon as possible.
Regular and open communication with your healthcare providers is key. Bringing up serious symptoms like unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue can help you to be diagnosed with the underlying cause sooner.
Improving Quality of Life After Treatment
Improving life after treatment means addressing the physical, emotional, and social impacts of cancer. Survivors have been shown to thrive with regular exercise, healthy diets, and mindfulness practices to handle stress.
Developing support networks like family, friends, or communities of survivors is another way to build resilience. Gentle movement with activities such as yoga, walking, or other creative hobbies not only boosts mood, but helps strengthen the body.
Research and Clinical Trials
Our commitment to research has driven us to transform colorectal cancer treatment, bringing new hope and healthier futures to countless patients. At St. Peter’s, an unwavering commitment to clinical research means our patients receive the advantages of the most progressive scientific discoveries. Ongoing research explores targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and minimally invasive surgical techniques, refining approaches to improve effectiveness and reduce recovery times.
In his words, for example, genetic profiling is making treatment more personal and specific to individual patients’ needs, targeting tumors on an individual basis.
Access to Innovative Therapies
St. Peter’s commitment to maintaining transparency extends to access for ground-breaking therapies, including even those that are still in the investigational phase. These creative solutions often include precision medicine.
These therapies include targeted chemotherapy and more sophisticated radiation techniques, both aimed at causing less harm to surrounding, healthy tissues. Ongoing trials here explore the efficacy of therapies such as CAR-T cell treatments and new drug combinations.
By providing access to these advancements, St. Peter’s ensures patients receive care that reflects the latest developments in oncology, keeping them informed about emerging options that could reshape their treatment journey.
Participating in Clinical Research
In addition to being an opportunity for cutting-edge care, clinical research provides patients the ability to further medical research in ways important to them. At St. Peter’s, trustworthiness is protected by rigorous ethics review processes, protecting safety and privacy, thus allowing for transparent participation.
Clinical trials offer hope to those battling colorectal cancer. Beyond clinical impact, they set the stage for future therapies, and they impact the disease’s overall management worldwide.
Advancing Cancer Treatment Options
St. Peter’s role is to facilitate collaboration among researchers and clinicians to continuously improve cancer care. This partnership continuously improves treatment strategies, making certain patients benefit from therapies that are clearly demonstrated to work, while fueling a culture of innovation.
Conclusion
Colon and rectal cancers are very serious diseases, and fighting them takes more than medicine alone. At St. Peter’s, it’s care that’s a step above. Use cutting-edge technology, collaborative teams, and a commitment to you — each phase leading to improved results. From initial diagnosis all the way through treatment and recovery, the process remains transparent and straightforward. You’ll experience customized treatments, minimally invasive surgeries and nurturing through every step. That’s because the same highly specialized team conducts research, which opens exciting new options for you as a patient.
One of St. Peter’s key priorities is your health—understanding it and providing you the care you need to thrive. If you, or someone you love, are currently in a colon or rectal cancer journey, we encourage you to contact us. Because it’s not just about treatment—it’s about creating an empowered partnership that builds a better tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes St. Peter’s approach to colon and rectal cancer care unique?
At St. Peter’s, the latest technology is matched with individualized attention. They focus on early diagnosis, minimally invasive treatments, and comprehensive support for recovery. Their collaborative interdisciplinary team of specialists delivers a patient-centered approach customized to each individual’s unique needs.
What are the treatment options for colon and rectal cancer at St. Peter’s?
St. Peter’s provides a full range of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapies. They utilize the most advanced techniques such as robotic-assisted surgery and individualized treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes.
How does St. Peter’s diagnose and stage colon and rectal cancer?
St. Peter’s combined advanced imaging, colonoscopy, and biopsy allows for early and accurate cancer diagnosis. They further rely on state-of-the-art imaging techniques, including CT and MRI, to accurately stage the disease so that treatment can be precisely tailored.
What advanced surgical techniques are available at St. Peter’s?
At St. Peter’s, we’ve developed a strong specialty for performing minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries. These approaches create less downtime, lead to lower pain levels, and allow surgeons greater precision, which leads to better outcomes.
Does St. Peter’s offer supportive care during treatment?
Yes, but supportive care like nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and mental health care are part of the plan at St. Peter’s. Their multi-disciplinary approach focuses on patients’ physical and emotional well-being throughout treatment.
Can I participate in clinical trials at St. Peter’s?
No doubt about it. St. Peter’s provides access to the most state-of-the-art clinical trials. These trials are gateways to experience groundbreaking treatments and therapies that you can’t find everywhere.
What happens after treatment at St. Peter’s?
In addition to these efforts, St. Peter’s has placed great emphasis on developing their survivorship care. This type of care involves routine check-ups, surveillance for possible recurrence, and advice on how to live a healthy life that will help with ongoing recovery and survival.