Colon Cancer Specialist
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Jeffrey S Aronoff, MD
Colorectal Surgeon located in New York, NY
More than 100,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year, making it the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. If you’ve been diagnosed with colon cancer, Jeffrey S. Aronoff, MD, PC, in Midtown East, Manhattan, can help. Dr. Aronoff provides expert diagnosis and treatments for all stages of colon cancer. Book an appointment online or call the New York City office to learn about your treatment options today.
Colon Cancer Q&A
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine and usually begins with small groups of cells called polyps — not all polyps are cancerous.
Experts aren’t sure exactly why some people get colon cancer, but there are some factors that increase your risk, including:
- A family history of colorectal cancer
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- Previous incidences of cancer
- A high-fat, low-fiber diet
- Age over 50
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Smoking and heavy alcohol use also increases your risk of colon cancer.
What are the types of colon cancer?
If you’ve been diagnosed with colon cancer, the next step is determining its stage.
- Stage I: colon cancer is in the lining of your large intestine but hasn’t spread any farther
- Stage II: the cancer has grown into the intestine wall
- Stage III: the cancer has spread from the lining to the intestine wall and into nearby lymph nodes
- Stage IV: the cancer has spread to other organs in the body
Treatment generally depends on the stage of the cancer.
How is colon cancer treated?
If you have polyps or are in the early stages of colon cancer, minimally invasive surgery, or laparoscopic surgery, is often possible.
Laparoscopic surgery is performed with a laparoscope, a small tube that contains a camera and allows your surgeon to work through several small incisions rather than one large one.
Dr. Aronoff may recommend a partial colectomy if the cancer has grown through the intestine wall but hasn’t spread any farther.
During this procedure, Dr. Aronoff removes the diseased parts of the colon, then reconnects the healthy parts. A partial colectomy can often be performed laparoscopically.
What can I expect during recovery?
Following your surgery, Dr. Aronoff encourages you to walk around in order to lessen muscle soreness. After laparoscopic surgery, you may be able to return to normal activities within approximately 2 weeks.
Early detection and treatment of colon cancer improve your outcome. For people with stage I colon cancer, the relative 5-year survival rate is 92% — in other words, 92 out of every 100 people who are treated for stage I colon cancer are alive five years later. However, many of them live much longer.
If you have questions about surgery for colon cancer, book an appointment online or call the office of Jeffrey S. Aronoff, MD, PC.