El cáncer de colon es una enfermedad grave que requiere un tratamiento oportuno y experto. El Dr. Albert Chung se especializa en procedimientos quirúrgicos avanzados, incluyendo asistida por robot y técnicas mínimamente invasivas, para proporcionar el más alto nivel de precisión y atención. Si usted o un ser querido ha sido diagnosticado con cáncer de colon, llame al (714) 988-8690 para programar una consulta en nuestra oficina de Santa Margarita, CA.
Colon cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the lining of the colon. Most colon cancers begin as small polyps that gradually grow over years and, if left in place, can eventually become cancerous and spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and lungs. Early detection and removal are what change the trajectory of this disease.
Colon cancer often develops silently in its earliest stages. When symptoms do appear, common signs include:
These signs overlap with many benign conditions, which is why screening matters so much: it can find cancer (or precancerous polyps) before symptoms ever appear.
Several factors raise the likelihood of developing colon cancer.
If Dr. Chung determines that you're at risk based on your medical or family history, or if symptoms warrant evaluation, he'll conduct a comprehensive workup. Diagnostic methods may include:
For most patients diagnosed with colon cancer, surgery is the primary treatment. A colectomy (also called colon resection surgery) removes the diseased section of the colon along with nearby lymph nodes to prevent the spread of cancer.
After removing the affected tissue, Dr. Chung typically performs an anastomosis to reconnect the healthy parts of the intestine. Depending on the stage and characteristics of the cancer, treatment may also include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy in combination with surgery.
Three main approaches are used in colon resection surgery, each with different tradeoffs.
Dr. Chung specializes in robotic-assisted colon cancer surgery using the da Vinci surgical system. The technology gives him a level of precision and visualization that traditional approaches simply can't match, particularly when navigating complex anatomy or working in tight spaces.
Compared to traditional approaches, robotic-assisted colon surgery may offer:
Surgical intervention is highly effective for colon cancer, but not every patient is a candidate for minimally invasive techniques. The right approach depends on tumor size, location, stage, and your overall health. Dr. Chung will evaluate your specific situation and recommend the treatment plan that gives you the best chance of full recovery.
The operation is named for the segment of colon removed. The tumor's location decides which one you need.
Dr. Chung follows an enhanced recovery protocol, which is the reason most robotic patients are home in a few days rather than a week.
Almost never for colon cancer. The two ends of the bowel are joined back together (an anastomosis) in the same operation, and the vast majority of patients go home with normal, if temporarily changed, bowel function. A temporary stoma is used only when the bowel cannot safely be joined right away, most often in emergency surgery for a perforated or obstructing tumor, and it is reversed in a second short operation a few months later. Permanent colostomy is a question for very low rectal cancers, which is addressed on the rectal cancer surgery page.
A colon cancer operation removes the tumor together with the segment of colon around it and the fan of tissue containing its blood vessels and lymph nodes. National guidelines call for at least 12 lymph nodes to be examined, because the number of involved nodes sets the stage and determines whether chemotherapy is recommended. Robotic surgery makes it easier to take a complete lymph node package and to confirm good blood supply to the reconnected bowel using Firefly fluorescence imaging, which lowers the risk of a leak at the join.
Patients from across Orange County come to Dr. Chung for colon cancer surgery because he performs it robotically, is fellowship-trained in colon and rectal surgery specifically, and handles every step from the diagnostic colonoscopy through surveillance himself.
Dr. Chung sees patients at 30212 Tomas, Suite 365, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, off the 241 toll road in South Orange County. Patients come from Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, Trabuco Canyon, Santa Ana, and across Orange County. Most new patients are seen within days, and a first visit usually includes the exam, a plain-language explanation, and a treatment plan the same day.
Not ready for an in-person visit? Dr. Chung also offers online video consultations. Read what patients say on the reviews page.
Two to three hours for most robotic or laparoscopic colectomies, longer for extended resections or when scar tissue from prior surgery is present. You are under general anesthesia throughout.
Two to four days after robotic or laparoscopic colon surgery under an enhanced recovery protocol. Open surgery typically means five to seven days. You go home once you are eating, walking, passing gas, and comfortable on oral pain medication.
Cancer outcomes are equivalent between the two minimally invasive approaches, and both are better than open surgery for recovery. Robotic surgery offers better visualization, wristed instruments, and a lower chance of converting to an open operation mid-procedure, which matters most in complex anatomy, obese patients, and low pelvic dissections.
It depends on the pathology. Stage I cancers are usually treated with surgery alone. Stage III cancers, where lymph nodes are involved, are treated with chemotherapy after surgery. Some stage II cancers with high-risk features are offered chemotherapy as well. Dr. Chung reviews the final pathology with you and coordinates with medical oncology.
Clear liquids the day of surgery, then a soft, low-residue diet for the first couple of weeks: small, frequent meals, limited raw vegetables and high-fiber foods, and plenty of fluids. Most patients return to a normal diet within three to four weeks. Dr. Chung provides a written diet progression at discharge.
Yes. Send prior colonoscopy, pathology, and imaging reports ahead of the visit and Dr. Chung reviews them before you arrive. Second opinions are available in person or by video consultation.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, due for screening, or seeking a second opinion on your treatment plan, Dr. Chung can help you understand your options and choose the approach that's right for you.
Reserva una consulta Llame al (714) 988-8690Estamos aquí para escucharte mientras te curas. No dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros.
El diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos mejoran en gran medida los resultados del cáncer colorrectal. Llame a la clínica colorrectal del Dr. Albert Chung en el condado de Orange.
