Colorectal Cancer

A bowel cancer diagnosis can come as a shock. But the condition, also known as colorectal cancer, is common. With successful treatment, you can live a full, active life.

For exceptional care, including the best available options from renowned consultants, turn to Cleveland Clinic London. We deliver the highest level of colorectal cancer treatment. Your care plan considers your diagnosis, health and preferences. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to help you get the best outcomes.

People with colorectal or anal cancer find the comprehensive care they need at Cleveland Clinic London. You can access everything you need in one service, including a broad range of tests and treatments. Our colorectal surgeons, some of the U.K.’s leading consultants, guide your care. They work alongside additional specialists to deliver prompt, personalised bowel cancer services.

Highlights of our service include:

• Multidisciplinary team: A large team of consultants collaborates to develop treatment plans that optimise outcomes. Colorectal surgeons discuss your case with oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. Our cancer nurse specialists coordinate appointments and keep your care moving forward.
• Range of treatments: Our team sees the most complex cases, including cancers that spread to nearby organs. For early-stage cancers, we often use minimally invasive procedures that are gentler on your body.
• Attentive inpatient services: Bowel cancer surgery recovery starts in our intensive care unit (ICU). On-site intensivists (intensive care specialists) oversee 24/7 care and monitoring. Specially trained ICU nurses check on you frequently. You have a dedicated nurse who helps you stay safe and comfortable. You also receive daily visits from colorectal surgeons.
• Ongoing monitoring: Our team cares for you long after colorectal cancer treatments are complete. We perform regular monitoring for up to five years to check for cancer that may come back (recur), so we can treat it as soon as possible. The frequency and duration of your follow-up plan depend on the original diagnosis and your colorectal cancer risk factors.

You receive the most advanced care available. We tailor care plans that consider your diagnosis, other medical needs and preferences. Your plan may include multiple therapies, so you have the best possible chances of becoming cancer-free.

Minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery

Surgery is a common bowel cancer treatment, and we typically use minimally invasive methods. Our surgeons’ exceptional capabilities and sophisticated technologies enable us to remove cancer with less disruption to healthy tissue, typically leading to an easier recovery.

Techniques we use include:

• Colonoscopy.
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMS).
• Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS)/transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS): During TEMS and TAMIS, we access tumours through the anus to remove them. These procedures help remove early-stage cancers, benign growths and hard-to-reach tumours.
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

If cancer spreads to the liver, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeons work with colorectal surgeons to coordinate care. We may remove both cancers in one operation. Few services in the U.K. have this capability. Find out more about liver cancer.  

Additional colorectal cancer treatments

In some cases, you may need chemotherapy or clinical (radiation) oncology to help shrink a tumour before surgery, making it easier to remove. Or you may receive these treatments after an operation to lower the likelihood of cancer coming back.

Our partnership with The London Clinic gives you access to the highest-quality services. Cleveland Clinic London consultants collaborate with The London Clinic team to tailor therapies and ensure a seamless experience.

Anal Cancer Detection and Treatment

Our team includes some of the U.K.’s leading anal cancer specialists. This rare condition is more likely in people who have immunosuppression or an HPV infection.

We use high-resolution anoscopy to detect pre-cancerous changes. This advanced anal cancer screening method enables us to find and treat these changes earlier, before they become cancerous. Many people diagnosed with anal cancer are cured with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, eliminating the need for surgery.

Second Opinions and Virtual Consultations

Patients from all over the world turn to our bowel cancer consultants for second opinions. You can receive this service through a virtual visit, so you don’t have to travel to get the information you need.

Colorectal cancer specialists review your medical records and test results. They confirm the diagnosis and provide personalised recommendations. Second opinions are available regardless of whether you decide to seek treatment at Cleveland Clinic London.

Cancer Care Self-Pay Services

Contact us or call +44 20 3423 7500 for more information about bowel cancer services. 

We make it easier to access expert care in the U.K. Read more about payment information, including options for self-pay and private medical insurance. If you are coming to us from another country, learn more about coordination available through Global Patient Services.