COLORECTAL SURGERY BLOG

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MD Get the PDF version of this article Managing the Complete Clinical Response There are over 43,000 new cases of rectal cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. Following preoperative treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, also known as neoadjuvant therapy, radical surgical resection has been the next therapeutic

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDAre you at least 50 years old?  Or experiencing  symptoms, like diarrhea, constipation, cramps, and bloody stools? Did your doctor recommend that you have a colonoscopy? But you chose to ignore that request? Many people who should have such a screening or surveillance,  do not follow through with it.

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDA quick online search turns up many people suffering from painful and annoying anal itching and burning, all looking for assurance their hemorrhoid symptoms will go away on their own instead of having to face a doctor. We get it – hemorrhoids are embarrassing. As it turns out, most

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDThe great majority of polyps we remove during colonoscopies are benign. However, because almost all colon cancers begin as a seemingly benign polyp, we generally remove any polyps we discover. Once removed, we send them to a laboratory and look at them under a microscope for further testing. This

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDIron deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body’s supplies of iron are low, hindering the body from making enough red blood cells. These cells are vital to the overall health of the body as their primary job is to carry oxygen to the organs. When there aren’t

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDColorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in America. Affecting roughly 4% of men and women, this disease has a 65%, five-year survival rate, with that rate being much higher in low-risk cases, and much lower in high-risk cases. Thanks

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDHemorrhoids are considered a disorder of the anus and rectum. Unfortunately, experts don’t entirely understand the exact cause of hemorrhoids. However, the condition is believed to be connected to excessive straining while passing stools, or increased pressure due to pregnancy or being overweight, which, in turn, causes the anal

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDMany people see blood when they wipe after a bowel movement, and they immediately panic. While this is reason for concern and you should see a doctor, it is likely a relatively minor condition that your doctor can help you work through. Pain in addition to the bleeding may

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDHemorrhoids area common problem for many people,and supplements exist to help treat the condition. There are many reasons why a hemorrhoid may form and getting a hemorrhoid is quite normal. Consuming certain medications, vitamins and supplements can directly or indirectly affect the formation of hemorrhoids. Supplements and medications may

Medically reviewed by: Gary H. Hoffman, MDDo I really need a colonoscopy? The purpose of a colonoscopy is to detect and/or evaluate the health of the large intestine, otherwise known as the colon. How do you know if you really need one? Colon Function 101 The primary purpose of the large intestine (colon) is to