Colorectal Surgery
San Bernardino & Riverside

Cal Med Docs Colorectal Surgeon

At Cal Med Docs in San Bernardino and Riverside colorectal surgery is a branch of medicine that focuses on disorders of the rectum, anus and colon. Cal Med’s colorectal surgeon is one of just a few currently available in the greater Inland Empire area.

The services provided and conditions treated by Cal Med’s colorectal surgeons in San Bernardino & Riverside are:

Your large intestine, which consists of the colon and the rectum, is an important organ that processes waste to empty the bowels. The colon takes away water from the stool and stashes the solid stool before emptying it into the rectum.

When the cells that line the colon or rectum become abnormal, it eventually evolves into a tumor, i.e. a colorectal cancer.

Here are some of the most common symptoms to look out for regarding colorectal cancer:

• If you see any blood in your rectum
• If you experience consistent constipation or diarrhea in your bowel movements
• If you feel bloated in your stomach
• If you suddenly have the urge for a bowel movement, or having a hard time emptying your bowels
• If you lose a lot of weight unexpectedly and/or have no appetite

Types of colorectal cancer

Colorectal adenocarcinoma, the most common colorectal cancer is adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum. Here how this long word is broken down: adeno refers to the glands and carcinoma is a type of cancer in the epithelial cells on the surface of your body, internally and externally. This cancer grows in the lining of your large intestine and can spread to other layers. One of the subtypes of adenocarcinoma is mucinous adenocarcinoma, which is roughly 60% mucus. This form of cancer accounts for up to 15% of all rectal and colon adenocarcinomas can spread very quickly and is known to be more aggressive than typical adenocarcinomas.

The remaining possible colon and rectum adenocarcinomas include:

Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors start in nerve cells that regulate hormone production. These tumors grow slowly, often in the lungs and/or gastrointestinal tract. They are the cause of only 1% of all colorectal cancers but half of all cancers found in the small intestine.

Primary colorectal lymphomas are a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that grows in lymphocytes, white blood cells that are crucial in fighting infections.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are fairly rare and develop in a cell within the lining of the gastrointestinal tract with over 50% developing in the stomach.

Leiomyosarcomas are another form of sarcoma while Melanomas are more commonly associated with skin cancer.