Colorectal Cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons and oncologists at Ascension Wisconsin deliver advanced care for colon and rectal cancer and lower GI conditions

Advanced care for colon and rectal cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons and oncologists at Ascension Wisconsin deliver advanced care for colon and rectal cancer and lower GI conditions

Colon cancer care in Wisconsin

When you choose Ascension Wisconsin, you get a team of experienced colon and rectal specialists in Milwaukee and surrounding communities in Southeast Wisconsin. Our gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons share best practices and the latest in colon and rectal cancer treatment and research – bringing the best of cancer care to you

Understanding colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer starts in either your colon or your rectum that make up the lower part of your digestive or GI tract. These two types of cancer are called colorectal cancer, because of their similarities.

Cancer develops when changes in the cells that line the inside of your colon or rectum grow polyps. Over time, some polyps can become cancerous.

At Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, we have doctors who specialized in colon cancer and rectal cancer, and many other lower GI conditions, including benign growths, bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis. 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.

Every appointment with our colorectal specialists starts with a compassionate conversation. Your doctor answers your questions and gets to know you. So, you get a personalized care plan. And with a plan, comes hope. We will 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 home, family, life and self sooner.

Symptoms of colon cancer

Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

  • A change in bowel habits
  • Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement)
  • Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way
  • Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away
  • Weight loss and you don’t know why

How we diagnose colon cancer

Early and accurate screening and diagnosis can help find cancer earlier. Along the way, your care may require a colonoscopy, imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, nutrition counseling or other specialists, including:

Blood tests can give your doctor a lot of information. They can see if certain elements in your blood are in a normal range. But in many cases, blood tests are only part of the information your doctor needs to make a diagnosis of a health condition. The diagnostic blood test will confirm or rule out if you have a certain condition or type of cancer.

If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, we deliver genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.

Getting a regular colon screening may help find cancer early, when it is 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 have 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. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, start here.

How we treat colon cancer

Our experienced doctors deliver advanced treatments and therapies for many types of colon and rectal cancer, including:

Medical oncologists provide drug treatments that are right for you, at convenient locations that are close to home. Our medical oncologists may also refer qualified candidates to our Ascension Research clinical trial coordinator in Wisconsin.

Using this minimally invasive treatment, your doctor uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy colorectal cancer tumors, including those that have spread to the liver. Guided by advanced imaging, your doctor targets the cancer polyps while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

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.

Using precise mapping strategies, radiation oncologists treat rectal tumors with endorectal brachytherapy and other radiation therapies. The goal of this type of treatment is to target the tumor and reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissue.

This minimally invasive treatment is used to treat and destroy colorectal cancer tumors, especially when the cancer has spread to the liver. Using image-guided technology, your doctor puts heat directly on the cancer polyps while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension Wisconsin sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and their loved ones. The Ascension Wisconsin Cancer Survivorship Program has activities that support the whole you.

Our experienced surgeons surgically remove tumors in the lower intestines and rectum and perform bowel reconstruction, if necessary. During surgery, a chemo-wash called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be used to target cells that have spread to the abdominal lining

Clinical trials

If you want to learn more about other cancer care options or would like to participate in one of our ongoing clinical trials, talk to your doctor to see what is available for you.

Locations for colorectal cancer care

Southeast Wisconsin Cancer Centers

Ascension All Saints Hospital Cancer Center (Racine, Wisconsin)

Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital — Mayfair Road Cancer Care (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin)

Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center — Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Polly and Bill Van Dyke Cancer Center — Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital — Ozaukee Campus (Mequon, Wisconsin)

Reiman Cancer Center — Ascension Wisconsin Health Center — Rawson Avenue (Franklin, Wisconsin)

Sherman Cancer Center — Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital — Elmbrook Campus (Brookfield, Wisconsin)

Northeast Wisconsin Cancer Centers

Ascension Calumet Hospital Cancer Care (Chilton, Wisconsin)

Ascension NE Wisconsin — St. Elizabeth Campus Cancer Center (Appleton, Wisconsin)

Michael D. Wachtel Cancer Center — Ascension NE Wisconsin — Mercy Campus (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)

Get a second opinion

When you are 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.

Financial assistance for cancer care

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.

Financial advocates are here to help guide you through your cancer treatment and recovery. We assess benefits and insurance coverage so you can focus on your well-being. We also help find financial resources to offset out-of-pocket costs, when possible.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

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