Franciscan St. Margaret Health’s Colon and Rectal surgery program specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the lower gastrointestinal tract, specifically the rectum, colon, and anus. The Colon and Rectal surgical staff works closely with other medical specialties in order to provide state-of-the-art treatment and care for patients. Our team of surgeons is highly skilled within their field, having completed advanced training within their medical specialty.
The Colon and Rectal Surgery program provides services for the following conditions:
- Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Colon and Rectal Cancer
- Diverticular diseases
- Anorectal diseases
Should I Get a Screening?
If you are older than 50, your doctor may recommended that you have a colon cancer screening. Use our DecisionAssist tool to help you decide whether or not to have a screening.
Did you know? There is no single cause of colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer
Colorectal Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. However, early diagnosis often leads to a complete cure. Almost all colon cancer starts in glands in the lining of the colon and rectum. When doctors talk about colorectal cancer, this is usually what they are talking about.
You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you:
- Are older than 60
- Are African American of eastern European descent
- Eat a diet high in red or processed meats
- Have cancer elsewhere in the body
- Have colorectal polyps
- Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Have a family history of colon cancer
- Have a personal history of breast cancer
For more information
Have questions or need additional information about colon and rectal cancers? Visit our online health library to read our In-Depth Report on colon and rectal cancers.