Colon cancer care at Mayo Clinic

When you’ve been diagnosed with colon cancer, the healthcare team at Mayo Clinic is here to help. We bring together world-leading colon cancer specialists, so you can access the colon cancer care you deserve.

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More than 4,000 patients seek lifesaving colon cancer care at Mayo Clinic each year.

We are the No. 1 ranked hospital for gastroenterology and GI surgery, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic was one of the first National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in 1973.

Colon cancer is life-changing. That’s why it’s the life’s work of our colon cancer team.

At Mayo Clinic, your colon cancer care is managed by a team of experts who are specialized in colon cancer. That means they have a deep understanding of the disease and can help you find the best treatment options.

Personalized care options

Here, your team is focused on you. And the team’s goal is to help you find the right colon cancer treatment plan. Members of your team work to understand your history and your goals, and they help you to make decisions with confidence. Your care plan might even include genetic testing to better understand your genes and which changes caused your cancer to develop.

A seamless care experience

When you’re faced with a cancer diagnosis, you need a care plan that allows you to focus on healing. Because our colon cancer experts work as a team, you don’t have to work quite so hard to manage the logistics of your care plan. Your Mayo Clinic team works together, helping ease your worries so you can focus on healing.

Advanced treatment options

Mayo Clinic is an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. That means our physicians are researchers, and they’re recognized by the NCI for their commitment to moving cancer care forward for all people. They continue to study the best treatments for colon cancer and to bring tomorrow’s treatments to patients today.

“I have never seen medical professionals conduct themselves like the professionals at Mayo Clinic. It was a humbling feeling to be treated with such respect and such care.”

Maurice O.

Mayo Clinic patient

Experts in surgical innovation

Many patients need surgery for colon cancer, and for some surgery can provide a cure. That’s why it’s important to have an expert surgical team that is experienced with colon cancer. From advanced surgical options to improved recoveries, Mayo Clinic’s colon and rectal surgeons are leading the way in colon cancer surgery.

Surgical oncologists have pioneered new colon cancer treatments such as pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) for cancer that has spread in the peritoneum and liver transplant for cancer that has spread to the liver. We have also been at the forefront of advancing existing surgical techniques for better outcomes, fewer complications and quicker recoveries.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for colorectal cancer

Amit Merchea, M.D., Colon and Rectal Surgery: There's a number of exciting things in the future for colorectal cancer care and research occurring at Mayo Clinic. These encompass new chemotherapeutics or immune therapies from surgical approaches. We're continuing to push the limits with robotic surgery and digital surgery using augmented reality and artificial intelligence. And this really helps enhance the care that we can deliver for patients with colorectal cancer.

David W. Larson, M.D., M.B.A., Colon and Rectal Surgery: Quality of life issues are a big issue for most patients. It is one of their number one questions. And we spend a lot of time educating the patient and trying to determine what their goals of quality of life are.

Shabana F. Pasha, M.D., Gastroenterology & Hepatology: So I think as Mayo Clinic physicians we are always available to answer questions, including making the decision whether or not a patient would benefit from a referral to Mayo Clinic. We usually request records for patients ahead of time. We preschedule tests and appointments, so if a patient needs a procedure, if they need to meet with the surgeon, again, if they need to meet with a genetic specialist, so all those tests are prescheduled wherein a patient can come in. If they are from out-of-state, they can fly in for a gastroenterology appointment, get all the necessary tests done and then return home.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, M.D., F.A.C.P., Medical Oncology: I think that having a center that's focused on research, but research that's applied to patient care. And that's what Mayo does best, is a certainly a plus, a positive that ensures that patients have access to the most innovative and the latest and the greatest that can't be found anywhere on the planet.

Amit Merchea, M.D.: So I think patients to seek care at Mayo Clinic with colorectal cancer because we really offer the expertise in treating this. We are a high volume Cancer Center. Our outcomes with colorectal cancer set benchmarks across the country. And patients have high-quality, safe and effective care. I think for any patient who's seeking surgical treatment for colorectal cancer, it's important that they look at not just the surgeon as an individual but the team.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, M.D.: And because of our integrated care, so a patient comes through the door for screening, if we find a polyp, or we find a cancer, that patient is meeting with the gastroenterologist and in no time with a surgeon, or the geneticists, with the medical oncologists if needed, and then anyone as part of the team. And that is quite unique. And that is why I think the care overall, the integrated level of care, at Mayo Clinic is certainly superior care.

If it’s on your mind, it’s part of our process

At Mayo Clinic, we help with the real-life logistical challenges that come with a colon cancer diagnosis. Here, you have a suite of resources, including nonmedical support.

Dedicated care coordination

We know it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. So, we make the most of your time with shorter wait times and a consolidated appointment itinerary.

Complete travel support

We offer an array of custom patient travel services to ensure the stresses of distance or special requests don’t get in the way of you getting the colon cancer care you need.

Helpful insurance specialists

At Mayo Clinic, we are in-network with many major insurance providers, and we don’t require a referral for you to seek care here. Our helpful patient account teams are available to answer questions and help with precertifications.

Nationally recognized for our colon cancer expertise

Mayo Clinic is ranked No. 1 in more specialties than any other hospital in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been recognized as the best gastroenterology and GI surgery hospital in the nation every year since 1990, when the rankings were first established.

We are the only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center with three unique locations. U.S. News and World Report ranks Mayo Clinic among the top three cancer hospitals in the nation and No. 1 in each state in which we have a campus: Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Our teams are standing by at our three locations to help you schedule a colon cancer appointment.