What to expect when you receive a colon cancer diagnosis

A diagnosis of colon cancer can evoke a range of emotions, including fear, uncertainty, and a profound sense of vulnerability. But thanks to early detection and advances in treatments, the prognosis for people diagnosed with colon cancer has significantly improved.

Eliza M. Slama, MD, a surgeon with Sentara Surgery Specialists in Woodbridge says, “This is why colon cancer screenings are so important. Early detection helps us find the cancer as early as possible. That helps treat it better.”
Dr. Slama emphasizes the importance of understanding what happens after a diagnosis when she meets with her patients. “A lot of fancy words may be used when a patient receives a diagnosis,” says Dr. Slama, “and my number one goal is for them to understand the diagnosis and have a clearer picture of what’s next.”

Here’s what to expect after a colorectal cancer diagnosis:

Meet with surgeon: The surgeon discusses the next treatment steps with the patient.

Testing: Further testing is usually required to plan any surgery. That can include CT scans, MRI imaging, blood work and ultrasounds. Under most circumstances, surgery is the first treatment needed for a colon cancer diagnosis. “As long as the cancer hasn’t spread to other areas, we usually start with surgery,” says Dr. Slama.

Surgery: The patient will undergo surgery to remove the cancer. This usually includes part of the colon with surrounding lymph nodes and other tissue.

Cancer staging: Determining what stage your cancer is helps guide treatment and predict outcomes of that treatment. The exact staging is usually not known until the cancer has been removed and a pathologist evaluates it. A physical exam and scans help with staging, but the final staging is determined by the pathology after surgery.

The stages of colon cancer include:

• Stage 0 – At this stage, the cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum. The tumor has not spread to other tissue.
• Stage 1 (I) – At this stage, the cancer has grown into the inner wall (muscle layer) of the colon or rectum.
• Stage 2 (II) – At this stage, the cancer has grown more deeply into the wall of the colon or rectum or through the wall. It may have invaded nearby tissue or organs.
• Stage 3 (III) – At this stage, the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissue near the lymph nodes.
• Stage 4 (IV) – At this stage, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body that are not near the colon, such as the liver or lungs.

Discuss treatment plan: “At this point we have a better picture of what our stage is, so we can talk more specifically about additional treatments that may be needed,” says Dr. Slama. Sentara Health has a multidisciplinary team with board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians working together through tumor boards to create a personalized treatment plan.

“The tumor board discusses each person’s case individually to truly pin-point the treatment they need,” explains Dr. Slama.

Treatment: Early cancers require only surgery. Additional treatments, such as chemotherapy, if required, are usually given after enough healing has occurred after surgery. Treatment is most effective when cancer patients are as healthy overall as possible.

Treatments are based on the individual patient and factors such as their age, cancer state and overall health.

Additional treatment may include:

• Ablation
• Chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy
• Surgery
• Partial colectomy
• Total colectomy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy

Our experts and partners are also researching new ways to treat cancer. Learn more about our work at Sentara Health Research Center.

Dr. Slama emphasizes regular follow-up care after colon cancer treatment is completed. “We want to ensure we continue monitoring to detect any potential recurrence and address any lingering concerns the patient may have.”

Get help right away if:

• You have increased bleeding from the rectum.
• You have any uncontrollable or severe abdominal symptoms.

Contact us

Find a cancer specialist or call 1-888-220-2214 to learn more.

Upcoming virtual events

Register for our webinar, Finding colon cancer in younger adults on March 27 at noon to listen to Dr. Slama break down myths versus facts when it comes to colon cancer screening.

Learn more about Nutrition and Colon Cancer in a webinar on March 28 at noon with Shaye Arluk, oncology dietitian and nutrition coordinator at Sentara Brock Cancer Center.