Colorectal Cancer Team
At Stony Brook Cancer Center, our Colorectal Cancer Management Team provides compassionate, individualized colorectal cancer care. We treat colon, rectal, small intestinal and anal cancers with a focus on your unique needs.
Our highly skilled colorectal surgeons are part of a multidisciplinary team of medical and radiation oncology experts. Together, we develop a personalized care plan tailored specifically to you.
Types of Colorectal Cancer
Learn more about colorectal cancers by clicking the links below:
Is there a clinical trial right for you?
(631) 728-7425
Our Colorectal Cancer Team
Surgery
Medical Hematology/Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Interventional Radiology
Enterostomal Therapy
- Karen E. Chmiel, RN
- Susan Guschel, RN
Gastroenterology
Meet the Gastroenterology Team.
Nurse Navigator
- Liliana Borrelli, RN
Screening Colonoscopy Program
A colonoscopy is the most effective way to screen for colorectal cancer. We recommend regular screenings for all adults aged 45 and over, even if you have no symptoms.
Our FAST TRACK program makes it simple for eligible patients to schedule a screening without a prior specialist visit.
Is It Fair?
Cancer is never fair. While researchers continue to work toward a cure, the best approach to take is prevention. Colon cancer screenings, such as a colonoscopy, can detect cancer early when it can be easily treated. Talk to your doctor about the best screening option for you.
Treatment and Care
At Stony Brook Cancer Center, our multidisciplinary Colorectal Oncology Management Team treats cancers of the colon, rectum, small intestine, and anus. These cancers often respond very well to treatment, and many can be addressed with surgery alone. Your care will always follow the latest, most effective treatment protocols.
The specific surgical procedure recommended for you depends on several factors. These include the type and stage of the cancer, its location, and your overall health. In some cases, our surgeons may perform procedures on multiple areas during a single operation.
Learn more about the surgical options for colorectal cancer types below:
Our medical oncologists are a key part of your multidisciplinary care team for colon, rectal, small intestinal, and anal cancers. They work closely with surgeons and radiation oncologists to create your treatment plan and monitor your progress.
Medical oncology treatments may include oral medications, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, which activates your body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Your expert care team includes nurse practitioners, chemotherapy-certified nurses and nurse navigators. If your plan includes chemotherapy or infusion, you will receive treatment at our comfortable outpatient Cancer Center on Level 6 of our Lauterbur Drive facility.
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that in many cases can be the single most effective method to treat colorectal cancers. It may also be combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy to help increase its effectiveness.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other forms of precisely targeted radiation, to kill cancer cells, while preserving the normal surrounding tissue. It’s often an option for someone who has early-stage colorectal cancer, as well as for more advanced cancers. In the case where cancer has spread, radiation therapy can also help to relieve symptoms.
Radiation oncology offers different modalities of treatment, including:
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Fractionated Intensity-Modulated RadioTherapy (IMRT)
- 3-Dimensional Conformal RadioTherapy (3DCRT)
- Brachytherapy with radioisotopes
A radiation oncologist who specializes in these types of cancers (colon, rectal, small intestinal and anal) evaluates each patient to determine the best course of treatment for the individual.
Screening and Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer
In this HEALTH Yeah! podcast episode, experts from Stony Brook Cancer Center discuss the importance of screening, walk you through what to expect during a colonoscopy, and discuss screening options other than colonoscopy. You’ll also hear about the latest advancements in surgical, medical and radiation oncology, as well as in colonoscopy.
