Colorectal Cancers Treatment Team

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is ready to help if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Massey features an award-winning medical team dedicated to providing the most precise diagnosis, the highest-quality treatment, including innovative clinical trials, a full range of support services and compassionate patient care.

Today, more than half of all patients diagnosed with cancer can be cured, and many others will live long, full lives even with their disease. But getting an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment from the very beginning is essential.

Massey offers a level of cancer expertise and experience only found at the top four percent of cancer centers across the country recognized as a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Massey is the only center in the Richmond area and one of only two in Virginia designated by the NCI to lead and shape America’s cancer research efforts. Massey also received U.S. News & World Report's highest ranking for colon cancer surgery in 2022.

Overview

Advanced, patient-centered colorectal cancer care

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is Virginia’s leading resource for colorectal cancer screening and care. Our team provides comprehensive, coordinated and highly specialized care for patients with colon and rectal cancers, and performs therapeutic colonoscopies for patients with pre-cancerous polyps. We focus on each patient’s unique medical and social needs to provide the best possible outcomes combined with the highest quality of life once care is complete.

Hallmarks of Massey's colorectal cancer care

Combined with a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care, this expertise and access to cutting-edge clinical trials and treatment options is why Massey is your best choice for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Discover the 5 Cs that make us the right choice for your colorectal cancer care. Choose Massey for your colorectal cancer care because we are:

Cutting-edge

Our doctors have unparalleled knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating all types of colorectal cancers and polyps (growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum) and cysts. We have new forms of surgical treatment that preserve the function of the bowel and rectum, and we offer advanced noninvasive procedures to determine how much cancer is present and how far it has spread.

Comprehensive

The colorectal cancer program at Massey offers an integrative approach with a full range of treatment options that support patients' strength and well-being while improving quality of life through treatment, recovery and survivorship. We also offer support services that range from helping minimize pain, symptoms and side effects to helping cope with the cognitive, emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

Collaborative

Cancer care generally requires multiple forms of therapy and various specialized doctors and specialists, who work as a team to treat the patient. Massey pioneered the region’s , in which specialists from numerous medical backgrounds collaborate in teams to coordinate all aspects and stages of patient care – and conveniently provide that care in multiple locations. This approach ensures that patients will receive the ideal combination and sequence of treatment.

Compassionate

Through respectful, attentive and compassionate care, Massey’s care team builds healing relationships with patients that help reduce suffering from cancer. We recognize that each patient’s medical, social, emotional and personal needs are unique, which is why patients have access to resources such as social workers, psychologists, legal and financial assistance, support groups, educational workshops and more.

Customized

Recognizing that each patient is unique and each type of cancer is different, Massey provides treatment strategies and care plans tailored and individualized to the patient. Patients also have direct access to a nurse navigator, who will provide guidance as they move through the health care system and treatment process.
Treatment
Advanced, comprehensive treatment options

Massey offers the full spectrum of advanced treatment options only available at large academic medical centers such as VCU Health. At Massey, one doctor does not decide your care. Instead, your personalized treatment plan is recommended by the region’s largest and most comprehensive multidisciplinary gastrointestinal cancer treatment team. A dedicated nurse navigator will guide you and your family through the treatment process to help reduce stress associated with coordinating care.

Most colorectal cancer patients require surgery to remove the tumor and may also receive chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy before and/or after surgery. Specific treatment plans and the sequence of care are recommended by your team based on a variety of health factors and personal preference.

Treatments may include any of the following:

Surgery

The aim of surgery is to remove the tumor. The extent of surgery will depend on whether the cancer has spread. When cancer develops from a polyp, the entire polyp is removed in a procedure called a polypectomy, which can often be performed at the same time as a colonoscopy. A colon resection is an operation that involves removing the cancer and a section of normal tissue on either side. Nearby lymph nodes are also removed during a colon resection.

Usually, the healthy ends of the bowel are surgically reconnected at the time of the initial surgery. However, in some patients the doctor may need to create a temporary connection between the bowel and the wall of the abdomen. This is called a stoma or ostomy. A stoma can be fashioned from the small intestine, called an ileostomy, or the colon, called a colostomy. The stoma is typically temporary but in some patients, it may be permanent.

Massey is also a leading expert in robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System, which may allow for smaller incisions leading to a faster recovery. For some patients, laparoscopic surgery may also be an option. In laparoscopic surgery, several tiny incisions are made and a camera is used to guide the surgeon as they control the da Vinci Surgical System.

At Massey, we follow an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in our care of patients before, during and after surgery. Through ERAS, our patients are actively involved in their own recovery process. Components of the program are:
- Pain management. Each patient has a personalized pain management plan designed to limit the use of opioids (narcotics)
- Early mobility and feeding. We help our patients begin to move and eat as soon after surgery as possible -Fluid management. We provide our patients with only as much IV fluid as they need to prevent fluid overload and bloating after surgery
Following ERAS helps our patients recover faster, leave the hospital sooner and have fewer complications following surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat cancerous cells, most often by interfering with their ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells. Studies have shown that chemotherapy after surgery can increase survival for some patients. Chemotherapy also can help relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.

External radiation

A precise beam of radiation is directed at the cancer cells from outside of the body using a linear accelerator. In order to protect the surrounding healthy tissue, special shields may be used. Radiation treatments are painless and usually last a few minutes. Side effects are typically mild but may include sensitivity and redness similar to a sunburn at the treatment site.

Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Massey is one of few cancer care providers in Virginia to offer HIPEC. HIPEC is a complex procedure reserved for patients with advanced abdominal cancers. It involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor or tumors as possible, followed by the circulation of a heated chemotherapy solution throughout the abdominal cavity. The chemotherapy solution helps kill any remaining cancer cells and reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. There is substantial evidence showing HIPEC is an effective treatment for several cancers affecting the abdominal region.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. There are two ways to deliver radiation therapy to the site of the cancer:
- Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy delivered inside the body as close to the cancer as possible. Substances that produce radiation, called radioisotopes, are positioned close to or implanted directly in the tumor. Brachytherapy often allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation while limiting radiation exposure to other organs. In some cases, brachytherapy is used to supplement or “boost” external radiation therapy.
- Immunotherapies stimulate the patient’s own immune system to attack cancer in various ways. This is a new and promising type of cancer treatment, and because of this many therapies are only available through participation in clinical trials.
Targeted therapies

Also known as “precision cancer care,” new drugs are being developed that target specific genetic mutations known to cause cancer. Massey was the first cancer care provider in Virginia to perform DNA sequencing for the treatment of cancer, and we continue to stay at the forefront of precision cancer care.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new medical treatments and devices and increase scientific understanding of a wide variety of diseases. Massey has one of the largest clinical trial portfolios in Virginia, which means our patients have access to new and promising treatments before they are made available to community providers.
Research

Life-saving discoveries

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, you’ll have access to the most advanced therapies and the latest technologies. Some of these therapies were discovered and developed right here at Massey, where our doctors collaborate closely with our research scientists to bring new research breakthroughs to patients in the form of clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that help the medical community discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases. With one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, Massey gives patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Learn more about clinical trials at Massey

CLICK HERE
Resources
Support services

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, we believe that treating the whole person, not just the disease, is the best way to care for patients and family members coping with cancer. We take a holistic approach to address not just your medical and physical needs, but also your psychological, emotional and social needs. We offer comprehensive cancer support services to care for you throughout your cancer journey that range from helping minimize symptoms and side effects to helping evaluate and cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer. These services include:
- Communication assistance
- Integrative health resources, including acupressure, art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy and tobacco cessation counseling. Complementary therapies are not substitutes for medical care but are used together with medical treatments to help patients alleviate stress and anxiety, reduce pain, manage symptoms and promote a feeling of well-being.
- Financial assistance for qualifying patients in need
- Genetic counseling by board-certified genetic counselors in Richmond’s only Familial Cancer Clinic
- Healing garden
- Legal assistance for qualifying patients in need
- Lodging for qualifying patients in need
- Nutritionists
- Palliative care by an international award-winning team for the management of pain and symptoms, including an outpatient Supportive Care Clinic
- Patient education, including libraries and health programming geared to cancer patients and their caregivers
- Pharmacy services, including in-hospital oncology pharmacies
- Psychological counseling
- Rehabilitation by one of the nation’s longest-running cancer rehabilitation programs with physical, occupational and speech therapy especially geared for cancer patients
- Spiritual counseling
- Social work for patients in need
- Support groups
- Transportation assistance for qualifying patients in need – ask your social worker for more information
- Wig salons that provide free hats, scarves and wigs as well as private head-wear consultation services
Click below for a full list of our patient support services:

Click here for
PATIENT RESOURCES

Click here for
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

Advanced, patient-centered colorectal cancer care

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is Virginia’s leading resource for colorectal cancer screening and care. Our team provides comprehensive, coordinated and highly specialized care for patients with colon and rectal cancers, and performs therapeutic colonoscopies for patients with pre-cancerous polyps. We focus on each patient’s unique medical and social needs to provide the best possible outcomes combined with the highest quality of life once care is complete.

Hallmarks of Massey's colorectal cancer care

Combined with a compassionate and patient-centered approach to care, this expertise and access to cutting-edge clinical trials and treatment options is why Massey is your best choice for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Discover the 5 Cs that make us the right choice for your colorectal cancer care. Choose Massey for your colorectal cancer care because we are:

Cutting-edge

Our doctors have unparalleled knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating all types of colorectal cancers and polyps (growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum) and cysts. We have new forms of surgical treatment that preserve the function of the bowel and rectum, and we offer advanced noninvasive procedures to determine how much cancer is present and how far it has spread.

Comprehensive

The colorectal cancer program at Massey offers an integrative approach with a full range of treatment options that support patients' strength and well-being while improving quality of life through treatment, recovery and survivorship. We also offer support services that range from helping minimize pain, symptoms and side effects to helping cope with the cognitive, emotional and psychological effects of cancer.

Collaborative

Cancer care generally requires multiple forms of therapy and various specialized doctors and specialists, who work as a team to treat the patient. Massey pioneered the region’s , in which specialists from numerous medical backgrounds collaborate in teams to coordinate all aspects and stages of patient care – and conveniently provide that care in multiple locations. This approach ensures that patients will receive the ideal combination and sequence of treatment.

Compassionate

Through respectful, attentive and compassionate care, Massey’s care team builds healing relationships with patients that help reduce suffering from cancer. We recognize that each patient’s medical, social, emotional and personal needs are unique, which is why patients have access to resources such as social workers, psychologists, legal and financial assistance, support groups, educational workshops and more.

Customized

Recognizing that each patient is unique and each type of cancer is different, Massey provides treatment strategies and care plans tailored and individualized to the patient. Patients also have direct access to a nurse navigator, who will provide guidance as they move through the health care system and treatment process.

Advanced, comprehensive treatment options

Massey offers the full spectrum of advanced treatment options only available at large academic medical centers such as VCU Health. At Massey, one doctor does not decide your care. Instead, your personalized treatment plan is recommended by the region’s largest and most comprehensive multidisciplinary gastrointestinal cancer treatment team. A dedicated nurse navigator will guide you and your family through the treatment process to help reduce stress associated with coordinating care.

Most colorectal cancer patients require surgery to remove the tumor and may also receive chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy before and/or after surgery. Specific treatment plans and the sequence of care are recommended by your team based on a variety of health factors and personal preference.

Treatments may include any of the following:

Surgery

The aim of surgery is to remove the tumor. The extent of surgery will depend on whether the cancer has spread. When cancer develops from a polyp, the entire polyp is removed in a procedure called a polypectomy, which can often be performed at the same time as a colonoscopy. A colon resection is an operation that involves removing the cancer and a section of normal tissue on either side. Nearby lymph nodes are also removed during a colon resection.

Usually, the healthy ends of the bowel are surgically reconnected at the time of the initial surgery. However, in some patients the doctor may need to create a temporary connection between the bowel and the wall of the abdomen. This is called a stoma or ostomy. A stoma can be fashioned from the small intestine, called an ileostomy, or the colon, called a colostomy. The stoma is typically temporary but in some patients, it may be permanent.

Massey is also a leading expert in robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System, which may allow for smaller incisions leading to a faster recovery. For some patients, laparoscopic surgery may also be an option. In laparoscopic surgery, several tiny incisions are made and a camera is used to guide the surgeon as they control the da Vinci Surgical System.

At Massey, we follow an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in our care of patients before, during and after surgery. Through ERAS, our patients are actively involved in their own recovery process. Components of the program are:

Pain management. Each patient has a personalized pain management plan designed to limit the use of opioids (narcotics)
Early mobility and feeding. We help our patients begin to move and eat as soon after surgery as possible -Fluid management. We provide our patients with only as much IV fluid as they need to prevent fluid overload and bloating after surgery

Following ERAS helps our patients recover faster, leave the hospital sooner and have fewer complications following surgery.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat cancerous cells, most often by interfering with their ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells. Studies have shown that chemotherapy after surgery can increase survival for some patients. Chemotherapy also can help relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.

External radiation

A precise beam of radiation is directed at the cancer cells from outside of the body using a linear accelerator. In order to protect the surrounding healthy tissue, special shields may be used. Radiation treatments are painless and usually last a few minutes. Side effects are typically mild but may include sensitivity and redness similar to a sunburn at the treatment site.

Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Massey is one of few cancer care providers in Virginia to offer HIPEC. HIPEC is a complex procedure reserved for patients with advanced abdominal cancers. It involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor or tumors as possible, followed by the circulation of a heated chemotherapy solution throughout the abdominal cavity. The chemotherapy solution helps kill any remaining cancer cells and reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. There is substantial evidence showing HIPEC is an effective treatment for several cancers affecting the abdominal region.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. There are two ways to deliver radiation therapy to the site of the cancer:

Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy delivered inside the body as close to the cancer as possible. Substances that produce radiation, called radioisotopes, are positioned close to or implanted directly in the tumor. Brachytherapy often allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation while limiting radiation exposure to other organs. In some cases, brachytherapy is used to supplement or “boost” external radiation therapy.
Immunotherapies stimulate the patient’s own immune system to attack cancer in various ways. This is a new and promising type of cancer treatment, and because of this many therapies are only available through participation in clinical trials.

Targeted therapies

Also known as “precision cancer care,” new drugs are being developed that target specific genetic mutations known to cause cancer. Massey was the first cancer care provider in Virginia to perform DNA sequencing for the treatment of cancer, and we continue to stay at the forefront of precision cancer care.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new medical treatments and devices and increase scientific understanding of a wide variety of diseases. Massey has one of the largest clinical trial portfolios in Virginia, which means our patients have access to new and promising treatments before they are made available to community providers.

Life-saving discoveries

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, you’ll have access to the most advanced therapies and the latest technologies. Some of these therapies were discovered and developed right here at Massey, where our doctors collaborate closely with our research scientists to bring new research breakthroughs to patients in the form of clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that help the medical community discover new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases. With one of the largest selections of cancer clinical trials in Virginia, Massey gives patients expanded treatment options and new hope every day.

Learn more about clinical trials at Massey

CLICK HERE

Support services

At VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, we believe that treating the whole person, not just the disease, is the best way to care for patients and family members coping with cancer. We take a holistic approach to address not just your medical and physical needs, but also your psychological, emotional and social needs. We offer comprehensive cancer support services to care for you throughout your cancer journey that range from helping minimize symptoms and side effects to helping evaluate and cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer. These services include:

Communication assistance
Integrative health resources, including acupressure, art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy and tobacco cessation counseling. Complementary therapies are not substitutes for medical care but are used together with medical treatments to help patients alleviate stress and anxiety, reduce pain, manage symptoms and promote a feeling of well-being.
Financial assistance for qualifying patients in need
Genetic counseling by board-certified genetic counselors in Richmond’s only Familial Cancer Clinic
Healing garden
Legal assistance for qualifying patients in need
Lodging for qualifying patients in need
Nutritionists
Palliative care by an international award-winning team for the management of pain and symptoms, including an outpatient Supportive Care Clinic
Patient education, including libraries and health programming geared to cancer patients and their caregivers
Pharmacy services, including in-hospital oncology pharmacies
Psychological counseling
Rehabilitation by one of the nation’s longest-running cancer rehabilitation programs with physical, occupational and speech therapy especially geared for cancer patients
Spiritual counseling
Social work for patients in need
Support groups
Transportation assistance for qualifying patients in need – ask your social worker for more information
Wig salons that provide free hats, scarves and wigs as well as private head-wear consultation services

Click below for a full list of our patient support services:

Click here for

PATIENT RESOURCES

Click here for

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

Colorectal cancer treatment team

Click here for

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