Colon & Rectal Cancer Care

Before Your First Appointment

We schedule your first visit within two weeks of when you or your doctor first contact us. Before your first visit, we coordinate testing you’ll need and, with your participation, get reports and copies of any tests you’ve already completed, such as X-rays and colonoscopies.

We’ll explain what other tests you need. Most patients will have these tests:

• CT scan of the torso (chest, abdomen and pelvis)
• MRI of the pelvis
• Ultrasound of the rectum

Our care team will arrange for you to complete these tests before your first appointment. Our nurse practitioner is available to walk you through these initial steps:

• Explain everything to you
• Help make the necessary arrangements
• Provide support and advice

Our goal is to make this process as convenient and quick as possible for you so you can begin treatment.

During Your First Appointment

By the time you arrive for your first visit, our team of specialists will have carefully reviewed and discussed all your records. During a multidisciplinary conference, a team of different cancer specialists will evaluate the unique circumstances of your cancer and recommend the best approach to meet your needs.

We encourage you to bring a family member or trusted friend with you for your appointment, which will take several hours. Here’s what you can expect:

• First, a doctor will do a thorough physical exam and take a detailed medical history. In some cases, after they examine you, we may order additional tests.
• Then our multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists will all meet with you at one time. Even if you don’t need a specific type of treatment — radiation therapy, for example — our radiation oncologist will be present during this meeting to explain why and to answer your questions. These specialists will:
  • Describe and explain the reasons for your preliminary treatment plan
  • Answer any questions you have
  • Provide you with any details you need to fully understand your diagnosis and treatment
• At this meeting, we encourage you to discuss your needs. We’ll take those into account when recommending your treatment plan, which we may modify based on our discussions with you.
• Once we’ve all agreed upon your treatment, we’ll explain what will happen during each phase of treatment and arrange the dates. Many people have radiation therapy and chemotherapy before their surgery, followed by more chemotherapy after surgery. Your team will make an appointment for placement of a port for chemotherapy, if necessary. 

BIDMC surgeons have expertise at removing the cancerous section of the rectum and reconnecting the healthy portions without creating an opening through the abdomen into the rectum for body waste to exit (called a colostomy). Most people do not need a colostomy.

Ostomy is a surgical opening to drain waste from your body. This waste drains into an ostomy bag. Some people may need an ostomy for a period of time after surgery, and a few people may need one permanently. We understand that having an ostomy for any length of time creates anxiety and that you will have many questions and concerns.

At the Rectal Cancer Program, our goal is to reverse temporary ostomies as soon as possible, rather than waiting for months of chemotherapy, which is standard practice in many other medical centers. This improves your quality of life.

Whether you have a temporary or permanent ostomy, our highly experienced, certified wound/ostomy nurses spend ample time with you and your family members. We’ll explain what you need to know about living a full and active life with an ostomy.

We’ll explain in easy-to-understand terms about stoma care, your appliances and how having an ostomy will impact your day-to-day life.

Our nurses will meet with you before surgery and while you are in the hospital. We’ll also provide you with clear instructions to help you manage your ostomy. Equally important, our nurses can provide you with advice or help after you leave the hospital.

Ostomy Support Group

We also offer an ongoing, monthly Ostomy Support Group. A certified wound/ostomy nurse leads this group. This popular group gives people with permanent and temporary ostomies the chance to share your experiences, gain support and learn from others in a relaxed, friendly setting. Many of our current and former patients — people of all ages and from all walks of life — find these groups very valuable.

You may qualify for one of our extensive clinical trials. We’ve designed these research studies to find better treatments for cancer patients based on the most updated information from around the world. We are committed to bringing you the latest in effective treatment options. Learn about our virtual clinical trial consult for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Our research initiatives aim to enhance treatment options and care strategies for all patients, reflecting our commitment to improving outcomes and quality of life. Additionally, we prioritize the education and training of future surgical leaders, actively participating in the education of surgical trainees to ensure the next generation is equipped with the latest knowledge and techniques.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, require further information or wish to schedule an appointment. We look forward to assisting you in your journey towards optimal health and well-being.

After your treatment ends, you’ll return to the hospital for regular follow-up visits for about five years. You’ll come every three to four months for the first two years, then every six months for the remaining three years.

Your doctors will explain what you can expect during those visits. Our nurse practitioner will help you make the appointments. We are available to you anytime you need us — to answer questions, suggest resources and provide support on an ongoing basis.

We also provide supportive care to help you manage symptoms of cancer and side effects of cancer treatments. We offer ongoing survivorship services during and after treatment, as well heart health care for people who’ve had cancer. Our Rectal Cancer Program is the only Accredited Program in the state of Massachusetts by the Commision on Cancer and the American College of Surgeons.

Your colorectal cancer care team includes experts from many areas. Depending on your needs, your team may include these and other specialists:

Dedicated Support from a Colorectal Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Navigator 

After your first appointment — and throughout your treatment — you’ll have continued support and contact from our nurse practitioner (NP) or nurse navigator, who will be your primary contact with us. These practitioners will be your go-to person, able to address your needs quickly and efficiently. You can contact them directly with questions, concerns or for any help and advice you need.