Urgent care vs. the ER: How to know where to go
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Visit the ER for serious illness or injuries when you need emergency care. Visit urgent care for minor injuries or illnesses that need same-day care.
Colon cancer care in Illinois
Ascension Illinois Cancer Care in Chicago provides advanced care for colon and rectal cancers.
Colon cancer care in Illinois
Ascension Illinois in Chicago provides advanced care for colon and rectal cancers
Why choose Ascension Illinois
When you choose Ascension Illinois in Chicagoland, you get a team of experienced and compassionate doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating colon cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.
Our care teams share best practices and the latest in cancer treatment and research – bringing the best of cancer care to you. Every appointment with your oncologist or gastroenterology (GI) care team starts with a conversation focused on you. Your doctor answers your questions and gets to know you. So, you get a personalized cancer care plan. And with a plan, comes hope. We’ll help you navigate your care and will be by your side every step of the way, connecting the dots. Our goal is to help you get back to your daily life, sooner.
Comprehensive care for colon (colorectal) cancer
Early and accurate screening and diagnosis can help find cancer earlier. And getting the right treatment at the right time decreases the challenges of later-stage colon cancer diagnosis. From colonoscopy and the removal of precancerous polyps to colon surgery, targeted radiation treatment and chemotherapy, our cancer care team has the expertise to deliver treatment options for both early and later-stage cancer diagnoses.
Hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer surgery program
Ascension Illinois partners with Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine to deliver advanced care to treat hepatobiliary cancer that can affect your liver, bile ducts, pancreas or gallbladder. Your multidisciplinary team includes a pathologist, surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, nurse navigator and genetic specialist.
Our experienced surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures when possible, using robotic-assisted technology and advanced surgical techniques to help improve your recovery from surgery and other therapeutic treatments, such as:
- Arterial infusion chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
- Liver resection
- Liver and spleen-preserving surgery
- Pancreatic duodenectomy (Whipple procedure)
- Removal of polyps in the small intestine (transduodenal polypectomy)
- Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for liver cancer
Abdominal surgery for cancer with an enhanced recovery care plan
If your care plan includes surgery or bowel reconstruction, surgeons at Ascension Illinois use the latest surgical techniques to help improve your recovery and your quality of life. Your care team may also refer to enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatments, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Throughout your care, your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.
Across our cancer clinics, we also deliver local ablation treatments, radiation therapy and medication therapies (chemotherapy and immunotherapy) for many types of cancer delivered by highly trained specialists. If you want to learn more about other possible options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for your care.
National accreditation program for rectal cancer
The Rectal Cancer Program at Ascension Alexian Brothers is proud to be one of the first three sites to achieve accreditation in Illinois. The NAPRC (National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer) has significantly transformed the treatment landscape for people with rectal cancer by establishing a comprehensive framework that emphasizes multidisciplinary care based on the latest evidence-based medicine.
The program fosters collaboration among specialists — including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists — providing you with a coordinated approach to your care. Choosing a NAPRC program site means opting for high-quality, patient-centered care that can lead to significantly better outcomes throughout your treatment journey.
To learn about our program and how we can assist, call 847-952-7205 to speak with our program nurse navigator.
Types of colon cancer
Your doctors and care team deliver a customized care plan for your cancer. We treat many types of colorectal cancer, including:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Lymphoma
- Lynch syndrome (HNPCC)
- MUTYH-associated polyposis
- Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
- Peutz–Jeghers syndrome
- Sarcoma
Stay connected with your cancer care navigator and care team
Your care team will help you schedule appointments, connect you with other services, and answer your questions. When you have a concern or feel unsure, don’t hesitate to talk with your cancer care navigator and ask questions.
Ask about virtual care (telehealth or online) appointments for your first consultation and as part of your ongoing care. You can have these virtual visits from the comfort of your home. You'll be able to talk with your doctor one-on-one via video from your phone or computer and get the care that's right for you.
Screenings to help detect colon cancer early
Getting regular colon screening may help find cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Early detection may allow for more options for treatment, too. Talk with your doctor about a screening colonoscopy or at-home colorectal tests that are right for you based on your age, family history, smoking history and other risk factors.
If you’ve been previously diagnosed with cancer or are in remission, screenings may be an ongoing part of your cancer care. Talk with your doctor about the right timing for ongoing screenings.
How we diagnose colorectal cancer
Cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. Lab tests, imaging studies and ultrasound endoscopy help your doctors diagnose digestive health conditions and cancer, and help them create a personalized care plan.
Depending on your health and type of cancer, your care plan may include:
If you want to learn more about other possible cancer care options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you.
GI specialists use endoscopic ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET scans, ERCP spy-glass technology, blood tests, tumor marker analysis, and colonoscopy to diagnose and monitor your condition.
Genetic tests can help you and your doctor better understand your risk for certain types of cancer. Ask your doctor about genetic testing and counseling to better understand your risk for developing cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic pathology tests to help identify genetic changes in cancer cells and tumor growth.
Call to schedule an appointment:
- Bartlett: 847-755-3273
- Chicago: 773-665-8070
- Elk Grove Village: 847-952-7929
Nutrition counseling to help improve your recovery.
How we treat colorectal cancer
Treatment for breast cancer may include medication, therapy or surgery.
These methods can be used to treat tumors that have spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs. Ablation is the use of heat, cold, or other methods to destroy tumors rather than removing them. For embolization, a substance is injected into a blood vessel to try to cut off a tumor's blood supply or to send chemotherapy or radiation right to the tumor.
Chemotherapy and other targeted drug therapies that help stop the growth of cancer cells.
Specially trained physical therapists deliver therapy to help manage lymphedema symptoms, such as swelling and pain.
Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.
Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension Illinois sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you
Surgery, including minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery techniques, when possible to remove the cancer.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your body’s immune system to help it recognize and attack cancer cells. It uses substances that are either made in the body or in a lab. These substances either boost the immune system overall or help it to better target cancer cells. These medicines can shrink some tumors or slow tumor growth
Advanced cancer care for colon cancer
At Ascension Illinois, our gastrointestinal cancer care teams specialize in diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. Our oncology care teams deliver advanced treatments, including:
- Colon and rectal polyp or tumor removal
- Complex abdominal surgery and bowel resection
- Intestinal blockage repair and stent placement
- Image-guided, minimally invasive procedures such as tumor ablation and embolization
Get a second opinion on your cancer diagnosis or care plan
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Illinois. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options.
When you’re facing a new cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Frequently asked questions about our colorectal cancer care services
Your doctor and care team get to know you well, and you’ll receive care for the whole person – from physical health and well-being to mental and emotional health to support for your family and caregivers. At Ascension Illinois, we provide innovative medication treatments, the latest surgical technologies and techniques, high-tech radiation facilities and support services. Our surgeons are part of a national team of cancer specialists sharing the latest in cancer care knowledge and research.
When you choose us for your cancer care, you get an entire team dedicated to your care. You may have a lot of concerns and questions. Your doctor and care team are ready to listen and answer your questions. Working together, we offer services that help support your treatment plan, including managing pain and other symptoms, medications, appetite changes, sleeplessness, fatigue and mood changes. Your entire care team stays connected throughout your care to discuss your treatment and progress.
We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care navigator can connect you to a financial counselor.
At Ascension Illinois cancer center and clinics, we offer convenient parking. Talk to your care team if you have transportation needs.
Surgical oncologists and anesthesiologists provide enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatment, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.
This service requires a referral
To learn how to get a referral, call:
- Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago — UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center: 773-665-9920
- Ascension Alexian Brothers and Ascension Saint Alexius— Cancer Center: CALL 844-952-HOPE (4673)
If your doctor is referring you, they can use these same phone numbers to get everything set up.
Ascension Saint Alexius Cancer Care - Hoffman Estates
1555 North Barrington Rd Building 3, Ste. 1400
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
Ascension Alexian Brothers - Cancer Care Elk Grove
800 Biesterfield Road Bldg 5, #120
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
800 Biesterfield Road Bldg 5, #120
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Ascension Saint Joseph - Center for Advanced Care
331 West Surf St
Chicago, IL 60657
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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