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Home > Patient Care Services > Colorectal Cancer > Tests and Treatments
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Colorectal Cancer Tests and Treatments

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Care Guides

  • Types of Colorectal Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
  • Colorectal Cancer Symptoms
  • Colorectal Cancer Stages

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The Duke Cancer Institute offers an integrated team approach to treating colon and rectal cancers in a patient-centered environment.

In a specialty where high patient volumes are directly correlated with superior patient outcomes, cancer patients need look no further than the Duke Cancer Institute.

Comprehensive Care From Diagnosis Through Treatment

The Duke Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary colorectal cancer team draws upon decades of training and experience treating complex and unusual cases as they evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of various diagnostic and treatment regimens.

The colorectal cancer program at the Duke Cancer Institute offers comprehensive care -- from diagnosis to recovery and rehabilitation:

  • Prevention and screening for early diagnosis using colonoscopies and less invasive "virtual colonoscopies"
  • The latest developments in medical therapies, including chemotherapy and targeted therapy to treat colon and rectal cancer
  • Radiation therapy using proven combinations of cancer-killing drugs to improve patient outcomes
  • High volumes of laparoscopic and traditional surgical procedures
  • Support services for patients undergoing or recovering from treatment

Two or more of treatment options may be used together, or in sequence one after another. The treatment plan is determined by the stage and grade of the cancer.

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are similar in many ways, but the treatments for each may differ.

The Duke Cancer Institute leads dozens of basic and clinical investigations to discover better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat colon and rectal cancers. Clinical trial coordinators work with the team to provide access to clinical trials for patients, offering innovative treatments not yet available on the market.

An Expert Team for Unparalleled Treatment

Our team of colorectal cancer specialists includes surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, and nurses.

Duke has five board-certified colorectal surgeons -- far more than any other program in the region -- who are uniquely qualified to perform the most intricate procedures that require years of additional training and special accreditation. Our surgeons specialize in laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery as well as sphincter-preserving operations for low rectal cancers.

In addition, a team of experienced radiation oncologists and medical oncologists specialize in the care of patients with colorectal and anal cancer. Unique areas of expertise include intra-operative radiation therapy, neoadjuvant therapy of rectal cancer, and phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in these malignancies.

Helping Patients Understand Their Care

As a patient at the Duke Cancer Institute, you play an integral role in creating the treatment plan and deciding which options feel right for you and your family. Our providers are dedicated to providing you with the information you need to make informed, knowledgeable decisions about your treatment.

The Duke Cancer Institute offers extensive educational and psychological support opportunities to cancer patients and their families through its support programs. Social workers and psychologists are an integral part of the care team and will help you find the resources you need to maintain a high quality of life throughout your treatment.

The Duke Difference

The Duke Gastrointestinal Cancers Program draws patients from all over the Southeast, the country, and the world seeking access to the full spectrum of conventional and cutting-edge experimental therapies. We provide comprehensive care to patients with a new diagnosis of cancer and previously treated patients looking for further treatment options.

Duke doctors are national leaders in the development of new treatments for all types of gastrointestinal cancers. Many treatments pioneered at the Duke Cancer Institute have become the standard of care.

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Learn how to make an appointment at the Duke Cancer Institute.

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About This Page

Updated: Aug. 22, 2011
Published: Sept. 8, 2006
URL: http://www.dukehealth.org/cancer/patient-care-services/colorectal-cancer/treatments/index