Other types of surgery for bowel cancer

Local excision 

People who have very early-stage rectal cancer or are not fit for a major operation may have a local excision. The surgeon puts an instrument into the anus to remove the cancer from the lining of the rectum, along with a margin of healthy tissue, without cutting into the abdomen. Methods include:

• transanal excision (TAE)
• transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS)
• transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS).

If there are two cancers 

In a small number of people, two separate cancers may be found in the large bowel at the same time. The cancers may be discovered through diagnostic tests or during surgery. In this case, there are several options for surgery:

• remove two sections of the bowel
• remove one larger section of the bowel, which includes both areas with cancer
• remove the entire colon and rectum (proctocolectomy) to prevent any chance of another cancer forming.

The type of surgery your doctor recommends depends on several factors, including your age, where the tumours is in the bowel, genetic and other risk factors, and your preferences.

→ READ MORE: Surgery for a blocked bowel (bowel obstruction)

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