Sometimes the first visit with the surgeons can be overwhelming. There is much information to be absorbed. It is good to make a list of questions before you meet with the surgeon and take notes as you are speaking with the surgeon. Bringing a relative or friend is helpful to provide support and to help remember what was discussed. It is OK to record the conversation with the surgeon. The attached document is a good guide to questions to ask your surgeon. This information may be found athttp://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/surgery/surgery.htm.

In addition to speaking with you, the surgeon will perform a physical exam. The exam may include using a scope to examine the tumor. Check with your surgeon's office to see if you should take an enema prior to the visit.

Burning around the anal area may or may not be related to the surgery. Diarrhea or constipation can aggravate anal discomfort. These symptoms should be discussed with you surgeon.

These symptoms could be part of the normal healing process or could indicate a problem. These symptoms should be discussed with you surgeon.

Colectomy and colon resection surgery are the same.

The timing of the involvement with the surgeon varies. Some colorectal surgeons perform colonoscopies and may be the first physician to identify the tumor. In some cases, the patient is referred to the surgeon only after consultation with a medical oncologist.

Laparoscopic surgery has been associated with slightly shorter recovery time and less postoperative complications such as wound infection and hernias. Laparoscopic surgery may not be a good choice for individuals who have had prior abdominal surgery or who have a large tumor. Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer should be performed by a surgeon with expertise in laparoscopic colon surgery.

The amount of colon that needs to be removed is based on the location of the tumor. It is important for the surgeon to remove lymph nodes that run along the blood vessels that supply the tumor. This required removal of the part of the colon that is supplied by a specific blood vessel. The surgeon must also take some colon on either side of the tumor.

A tumor that is located within 1cm of the anal sphincter muscles will require resection of the sphincter muscle in order to make sure that the tumor is removed completely. In some individuals with a weakened or damaged sphincter muscle, a colostomy is a preferable alternative even if the tumor is far enough away to preserve the sphincter muscle.