Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer involving the colon or rectum. Dr. Talbert usually wants to know more than that name on the diagnosis: where it is, whether it was found on colonoscopy, what the biopsy showed, and whether imaging has been done. Those details are what tell us whether we are talking about surgery, additional testing, or a larger treatment plan with other physicians involved.

Surgery becomes part of the conversation when the cancer may need to be removed from the colon or rectum. That decision is not made from one line on a report. Dr. Talbert looks at where the cancer is, what the biopsy shows, what imaging shows, and whether other treatment should happen before or after an operation.

Dr. Talbert is direct about this: bleeding should not be guessed at. It may turn out to be hemorrhoids, irritation, or something minor, but new bleeding, bleeding that keeps coming back, low blood counts, unexplained weight loss, pain that is not settling down, or a real change in bowel habits needs to be looked at instead of explained away.