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It can be difficult to talk about colon-related issues.

But colorectal diseases are too important to ignore. It's just one reason we take a team approach to your care.

 

Colorectal Care Center


We know it can be difficult to talk about colon related issues. But, the reality of colorectal diseases are too important to ignore. The Colorectal Care Center at Glendale Memorial Hospital provides each of our patients compassionate, expert care. 

The surgeons at Glendale Memorial's Colorectal Care Center have comprehensive experience in the evaluation and treatment of common as well as unique and complex colorectal diseases and disorders.    

We take a team approach to patient care at the Colorectal Care Center. Individual patient evaluation and treatment plans are coordinated with multiple specialists and ancillary care providers, as needed. Our team also includes the staff at Glendale Memorial Hospital, which has been recognized nationally for their dedication to providing exceptional nursing and patient care.

Risk Factors

The exact cause of colon cancer is unknown, but certain risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing it, including:

  • Age 45 and older
  • History of colorectal polyps or cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Genetics, including genetic syndromes and mutations in genes
  • Certain lifestyle factors, including obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and heavy alcohol use

Colorectal Cancer Signs

In the early stages of colorectal cancer there are often no signs or symptoms. Screening tests, including colonoscopy, are used to find cancer before symptoms develop. When signs and symptoms of colon cancer do occur, they may include:

  • Rectal bleeding
  • Very dark or bloody stool
  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Loss of appetite or weight loss
  • Anemia, or low red blood cell count
  • Feeling of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement
  • Weakness or tiredness
  • Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, diarrhea, narrowing of the stool, or changes in consistency

Keep in mind that other conditions share similar symptoms, such as hemorrhoids. It’s important to see your doctor for the right diagnosis.

Understanding the Stages of Cancer

There are five stages of colorectal cancer. Zero represents the least extensive, or earliest stage of the disease, while four is the most extensive, or latest stage. Cancer stage depends on:

  • If the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes
  • How deep the tumor has grown into the wall of your colon
  • Whether the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other organs

Conditions We Treat

We work to reduce or remove the symptoms of:

  • Crohn's disease
  • Diverticulitis
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Ulcerative colitis 
  • Other conditions that can greatly impact your quality of life.   

Minimally Invasive Treatment Options

Colorectal cancer starts in either the colon or the rectum and, in most cases, develops slowly over many years. Most start as a polyp—a growth of tissue that starts in the lining and grows into the center of the colon or rectum. A type of polyp known as an adenoma can become colon cancer.
 

More than 95 percent of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas that come from such polyps. Removing a polyp early can stop it from becoming cancerous.

Dignity Health's Glendale Memorial offers the latest robotic surgery treatment options for colorectal cancer. The da Vinci® Surgical System provides patients with a minimally invasive treatment option for complex colon cancer and other colorectal conditions. The benefits of robotic-assisted surgery for patients include:

  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Faster recovery time
  • Documented excellent clinical outcomes for cancer control

Areas of Excellence

Glendale Memorial Hospital has been recognized by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as the first hospital in L.A. County to be accredited as a Center of Excellence in Colorectal Surgery. SRC Center of Excellence accreditation is earned through participation in an extensive assessment and inspection process. Factors that must meet SRC standards include surgical volume and outcomes, facility equipment, clinical pathways and standard operating procedures, emphasis on patient education, and continuous quality assessment.

Board-Certified Colorectal Surgical Team

Our board-certified colorectal surgical team of well-respected colorectal surgeons is committed to providing you care in a dignified, sensitive manner.

Get Screened Now

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, affecting men and women of all races. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Screening can find precancerous polyps—abnormal growths in the colon or rectum—so that they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure. About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.
 

If you are aged 45 or older, get screened now. If you have questions about colorectal cancer prevention or you would like to schedule a screening to create a personalized prevention plan with one of our expert oncologists, schedule an appointment with a physcian.

How to Contact Us

To learn more about our services and how we can help or to schedule an appointment, please call us at (818) 244-8161 or use our online feature, Find a Doctor.

 

Address

222 W Eulalia St, Ste 100A

Glendale, CA 91204

Hours

Mon

9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm

Tue

9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm

Wed

9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm

Thu

9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm

Fri

9 am - 12 pm, 2 pm - 5 pm

Sat Closed

Sun Closed