Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers among both men and women in the U.S. While it’s very treatable — especially when found early — it can spread easily from the colon or rectum to the liver and require a more complicated treatment.
Previously, patients with colon or rectal cancer and liver tumors had to receive open operations, separately. That meant two trips to the operating room, two major surgeries and two lengthy (often months-long) recoveries. It also meant patients had to stop chemotherapy multiple times — which is not ideal for effective cancer treatment.
But thanks to surgical innovations, colorectal cancer surgery and liver tumor removal can now be combined into a single, minimally invasive cancer surgery.
A New Approach Means Improved Outcomes for Patients
“Half of patients with colorectal cancer will get a liver tumor at some point,” says Iswanto Sucandy, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon at AdventHealth Tampa. “We can treat both these conditions on the same day with one service. And since this approach is available exclusively at AdventHealth Tampa, many patients come from hundreds of miles away to receive it.”
The entire procedure takes roughly six to seven hours and requires close coordination between the liver surgery and colorectal surgery teams. Most patients spend only a few days in the hospital before returning home.
Team-Based Care at Every Step
Before deciding on a course of colorectal cancer treatment, the AdventHealth cancer team meets to discuss each patient’s condition and needs. Working together, we are best positioned to find the right options for care.
“This meeting, called a tumor board, is an opportunity for doctors to collaborate,” says Dr. Sucandy. “That gives our patients and their families confidence in the multidisciplinary care they receive — and opens the door for combined surgeries like these.”
Not only does this combined procedure require close collaboration between liver and colorectal surgeons; medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists must also work together before and after surgery to time the procedure strategically to minimize disruptions to chemotherapy and other treatments.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Cancer Surgery
Beyond simply having one minimally invasive surgery instead of two open ones, patients get many benefits from this combined procedure, including:
- Faster return to chemotherapy
- Fewer breaks in chemotherapy treatment
- Less blood loss
- Lower risk of hernia (and an additional hernia repair surgery)
- Quicker return to daily activities and work
- Reduced postoperative and wound complications
- Shorter recovery time
“Of course, all of these things benefit our patients,” says Dr. Sucandy. “But what really stands out to me is all the research that suggests fewer interruptions to chemo equal a greater chance for survival.”
Stopping Cancer in Its Tracks
Colorectal cancer is most treatable when it’s found early. That’s why we offer a robust range of colon and rectal cancer screenings, including colonoscopies — all so we can detect and remove early cancer before it has a chance to spread.
Take charge of your health. Learn more about colorectal cancer screening and schedule your colonoscopy today at YourColorectalExperts.com.
About Dr. Sucandy
Dr. Iswanto Sucandy is a highly experienced board-certified surgeon with dual fellowship training in Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, as well as Advanced Gastrointestinal Minimally Invasive Surgery. He primarily specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery for disorders of the liver.
