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Rectal Cancer Home |
Survival Rates |
Medical Staff |
Nurse Coordinator |
Diagnostics |
Treatment & Technology |
Case Conferences |
Clinical Trials |
Support Groups |
Cancer Education |
Patient Stories
Winning Against Rectal Cancer
For more than a decade, Hoag Cancer Center has maintained the highest volume rectal cancer program in Orange County. With a multidisciplinary approach that includes prevention, early detention, the use of standard and promising new therapies, participation in laboratory and clinical research, and extensive complementary care, the team at Hoag Cancer Center provides rectal cancer patients with every diagnostic and therapeutic advantage.
Hoag’s comprehensive site-specific rectal cancer program provides:
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Survival Rates
The superior care provided to Hoag rectal cancer patients is most clearly illustrated by the cancer center’s exceptional survival rates. The five-year year relative survival rate for Hoag rectal cancer patients is 19 percentage points higher than the most recent national figure.
Steady improvement in survival for Hoag rectal cancer patients coincides with introduction of multimodal therapy and latest radiation therapy technology.
Hoag’s higher than national figures survival rates is one reason why patients diagnosed at Hoag remain at Hoag for treatment. As shown above, survival for Hoag rectal cancer patients has steadily improved, while there has been minimal improvement in national survival. In fact, Hoag patients have achieved better survival outcomes than nationally for every stage of rectal cancer, as shown in the graph below.
These statistics include patients with cancers of the rectum and rectosigmoid, and show that Hoag patients have better survival in all stages of disease.
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Medical Staff Expertise
Hoag’s expert medical team is just one of the many reasons why patients diagnosed at Hoag remain at Hoag for treatment. Our multidisciplinary team of board certified rectal cancer surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists provide the latest in state-of-the-art surgical procedures and treatment options for patients with rectal cancer.
As part of Hoag’s multidisciplinary approach to rectal cancer, the medical team conducts twice monthly GI cancer case conferences in which experts from multiple disciplines gather together to review cases from every angle to ensure that the latest knowledge in rectal cancer treatment is applied.
Additionally, Hoag’s expert medical staff is complemented by its highly trained team of certified oncology nurses. Dedicated to delivering patient-centered care, Hoag’s nursing staff ranks among the nation’s top nurses, as validated by Hoag’s designation as a Magnet™ hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Hoag-Affiliated Rectal Cancer Experts
Obtaining your cancer care from a medical team that treats a high volume of patients with your specific cancer type has its advantages – namely, successful patient outcomes.
Studies show that physicians who treat large numbers of patients with a specific disease achieve better patient outcomes. During 2005-2006, two Hoag-affiliated board certified colorectal surgeons, Drs. Ng and Rad, operated on the majority of rectal cancer cases.
Additionally, during that same time period, five Hoag-affiliated medical oncologists in good standing with Hoag Cancer Center managed the majority of rectal cancer patients for whom a medical oncologist was identified: Drs. Mahdavi, Vandermolen, Barth, Fong, and Nanci.
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Diagnostics
While rectal examination is the most important procedure for the diagnosis of rectal cancer, advanced imaging technologies are important in determining whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the original site.
Utilizing highly sophisticated technologies, Hoag radiologists acquire detailed images that help define the nature and extent of disease to assist the GI cancer team in the development of the most effective treatment plan for each individual patient.
These advanced imaging studies include:
In addition to radiographic imaging, endoscopic studies play a major role in the diagnosis and staging of colon cancer. Hoag’s state-of-the-art Advanced Endoscopy Center serves more than 11,000 patients per year. Diagnostic and therapeutic treatments include EGD (upper endoscopy), colonoscopy, EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) and ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography).
Hereditary Cancer Assessment
It is estimated that about five percent of all rectal cancer occurs due to inherited cancer genes. Hoag’s Hereditary Cancer Program offers a genetics counseling program and genetic testing for HNPCC and FAP, as well as other genes associated with rectal cancer.
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Treatment/Technology
Hoag Cancer Center’s expert medical team works together to determine the best course of treatment for each individual patient. Minimally invasive surgical options, systemic therapy and radiation therapy comprise Hoag’s comprehensive approach to rectal cancer.
Hoag’s commitment to providing comprehensive cancer care has resulted in a five-year relative survival rate for rectal cancer patients that are 18 percentage points higher than national figures.
Surgery
In the modern era, very few patients have to undergo surgical removal of the rectum, but surgical resection of the rectal cancer is typically part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan. During 2005-2006, two Hoag-affiliated board-certified colorectal surgeons (Drs. Ng and Rad) operated on the majority of rectal cancer patients.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, before or after surgery, is a standard component of the therapy in treating rectal cancer.
Hoag Cancer Center’s radiation oncology program is another example of the center’s commitment to excellence in colon cancer treatment. The entire first floor of the cancer center is dedicated to radiation oncology, where its highly specialized team of medical experts deliver the latest in state-of-the-art radiation therapy to patients.
The most progressive options available for colon cancer patients include:
- 3-D conformal radiation therapy
- IMRT for selected patients
During a consultation with a radiation oncologist, the options best suited to the individual patient are discussed.
Hoag’s radiation oncology program offers a full spectrum of leading-edge radiation treatment options. For a complete list of radiation oncology services, please click here.
Systemic Therapy
Systemic chemotherapy is administered with radiation therapy, before or after surgery, as a standard component of care for the vast majority of rectal cancer patients.
Hoag Cancer Center’s medical staff includes 30 board certified medical oncologists. Each of these specialists is committed to providing the latest in systemic therapy options to patients. During 2005-2006 the medical oncologists who treated the largest numbers of rectal cancer patients were Drs. Mahdavi, Vandermolen, Barth, Fong, and Nanci.
Treatment of Metastatic Disease
Although it is uncommon to detect metastatic rectal cancer at the time of diagnosis, about 15 percent of patients do have demonstrable metastases at diagnosis, and up to 50 percent may eventually be diagnosed with metastases, especially to the liver.
Systemic chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody therapy are typically used in the treatment of such patients, but increasingly, local therapies are being used to eliminate certain sites of metastatic rectal cancer.
For patients with small numbers of metastases to the liver, surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation and tomotherapy are all treatment options, in addition to systemic therapy or intrahepatic chemotherapy.
Isolated lung metastases may be treated by surgical resection, preferably video-assisted thoracic surgery, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation or radiation therapy.
Bone metastases are typically treated with radiation therapy, whereas brain metastases can usually be effectively treated by Gamma Knife.
With the availability of all these treatment options, the outlook for patients with metastatic cancer is more hopeful than ever.
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Multidisciplinary GI Cancer Case Conferences
Hoag’s multidisciplinary GI Cancer Case Conferences provide collaborative prospective treatment planning for rectal cancer patients.
The twice monthly GI Cancer Case Conference brings together a variety of medical specialists including colorectal cancer surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, a genetic counselor and support staff to provide a multidisciplinary approach to treatment planning for patients with rectal cancer.
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Clinical Trials
Currently, there are no clinical trials open for rectal cancer. To learn more about Hoag Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Department, please click here.
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GI Cancer Support Group
The GI Cancer Support Group provides a unique forum in which patients are able to share concerns, and learn more about colon cancer and its treatment. The group meets once a month and is open to newly diagnosed patients, patients undergoing active treatment and patients who have completed treatment. The group , features educational presentations alternating with open discussions.
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Cancer Education
To learn more about rectal cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute Website.
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Patient Stories
This area is currently under development.
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