How Bowel Cancer Surgery Is Done

Bowel cancer surgery is planned according to the cancer’s location, stage, test results and the person’s overall health. Surgery may involve removing part of the colon or rectum, nearby lymph nodes and sometimes creating a temporary or permanent stoma.

This article is for general information only. Your surgeon and healthcare team can explain exactly how your own operation will be done.

Why Surgery Is Used

Surgery is one of the main treatments for many bowel cancers. The goal may be to remove the cancer, remove nearby lymph nodes for testing, relieve a blockage or help control symptoms.

The operation used for colon cancer may be different from the operation used for rectal cancer. For more detail, read our Surgery for Cancer in the Colon and Surgery for Cancer in the Rectum articles.

Open Surgery

Open surgery is done through a larger cut in the abdomen. This approach may be used when the operation is complex, urgent or not suitable for keyhole surgery.

Your surgeon can explain why open surgery may be recommended and what recovery may involve.

Keyhole Surgery

Keyhole surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery, uses several small cuts and a camera to help the surgeon operate. It may be suitable for some people, but not everyone.

The choice between open and keyhole surgery depends on medical details, the cancer, previous operations and surgeon assessment.

Removing the Cancer

During surgery, the surgeon removes the section of bowel containing the cancer. Nearby lymph nodes are often removed and checked because this helps doctors understand the stage and plan any further treatment.

For staging information, read our Staging Bowel Cancer article.

Joining the Bowel or Creating a Stoma

After removing the affected section, the surgeon may join the healthy ends of bowel together. This join is called an anastomosis. In some cases, a stoma may be needed to allow waste to leave the body into a bag.

For more information, visit our Having a Stoma and How the Stoma Works guides.

After the Operation

After surgery, the healthcare team will monitor pain, wound healing, bowel function, eating, walking and possible complications. Recovery may take weeks or longer depending on the operation and individual health.

Read our Side Effects of Bowel Surgery article for more recovery information.

Final Thoughts

How bowel cancer surgery is done depends on many personal medical factors. Ask your surgeon what type of surgery is planned, whether a stoma is possible and what recovery may look like.