The AHN Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence offers some of the newest and most groundbreaking care for the diagnosis and treatment of colon, rectal and anal cancer.
As a nationally certified Rectal Cancer Center of Excellence through the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), we create individualized care plans for each patient. Our expert health care professionals include a carefully coordinated team including:
Your treatment plan may include chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and surgery, as well as survivorship programs. Throughout this plan you can also count on:
The Colon and Rectal Cancer Center of Excellence provides patients with diagnoses, innovative treatments, and access to ongoing clinical trials.
When faced with a cancer diagnosis, you want to access the care that will make a difference. That’s why we are constantly looking to advancements in treatments so our surgeons can deliver individualized care plans.
Our surgeons specialize in:
At AHN, we see you and your unique needs. Your individualized treatment plan from AHN will always include the most comprehensive and specialized review from your medical team.
Our Colon and Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Tumor Board is like getting a second opinion from five additional, expert surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists before treatment begins. Each week 20 – 30 dedicated professionals present individual cancer cases to each other for detailed review of clinical information, social information, pathology, and imaging.
That means your specific case is reviewed by not only your expert medical team, but by an even broader panel to ensure all options are explored.
The AHN Colon and Rectal Cancer Center of Excellence is a disease-specific multidisciplinary team that focuses on providing comprehensive, compassionate and patient-centered care for patients with colon and rectal diseases.
Colon cancer screening is recommended for all people aged 45 and older. If you are at high-risk for colon and rectal cancer, more frequent or early screening is key. If you have any symptoms at any age you should have a colonoscopy.
Learn more about the risks of:
Regular, preventive care and talking with your primary care provider about any changes will ensure you receive the right screenings at the right time. Colon, rectal, and anal cancer screenings can identify early issues and catch cancer at the beginning stages, leading to faster diagnosis and improved treatment results.
One of the best ways to spot any potential issues early on is by having timely colonoscopies. The prep for colonoscopies has improved and the actual procedure is done under sedation by a compassionate and highly skilled professional. Preferably, patients undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years, but that may change based on your specific needs.
At AHN, we only use state-of-the-art technology that includes a high-definition colonoscope scope, advanced imaging techniques, all with continuous measurement of quality outcomes. These quality outcomes are measured by GIQUIC, which is a national quality improvement consortium focused on clinical performance.
When you come to the AHN Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence, you will sit down with one of our experts, they will listen to you, hear your goals, and tailor treatment to meet your needs — because at AHN, we see you. And we know that each cancer case is different. Our team of doctors, surgeons, and other colorectal specialists are not only highly skilled and experienced, they also are compassionate and dedicated to serving all their patients.
That means broader care access and specialized, accessible health care for those in our communities facing a colon and rectal cancer diagnosis. If you or someone you know is searching for inclusive care, the Center for Inclusion Health may be the place to go.
The AHN Center for Inclusion Health removes barriers that can prevent some people from getting or seeking the care they need. This includes:
The personalized, expert treatment you will receive starts with a thorough understanding of your whole health. By using high-risk screening methodologies and surveillance of your risk factors, we can create a treatment plan that is comprehensive.
We are dedicated to developing expert treatment options that are focused on treating colon, rectal, and anal cancer.
Colonic stents are used to avoid emergent surgeries, allow other treatments to start immediately, and decrease to need for a colostomy bag. They can also help provide symptomatic relief of bowel obstructions. A colonic stent will allow for chemotherapy and radiation to safely without surgery needing time to recover from surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure that only requires sedation.
Our expert treatment extends to cutting-edge oncology. With radiation oncology, cancer cells are targeted with greater accuracy that minimizes damage to healthy tissue.
Treatment options include:
AHN Medical Oncology uses the latest treatments and therapies to target and treat cancer. Your medical oncologist works with your care team to understand your specific needs, your overall health, and works to find the right mix of treatment for you.
An area that the AHN Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence is focused on evolving is using genetics to understand cancer diagnosis and the potential treatment plans.
Our genetics team often run tests that look for:
Depending on stage at presentation, rectal cancer [LINK to rectal page when active] is often treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and surgery. If chemotherapy and radiation therapy are needed, it is often best to give them before surgery. This is what the term “neoadjuvant” means: adjuvant therapy (chemo and radiation) given before surgery.
Total Neoadjuvant Therapy requires an expert clinical assessment from a highly skilled and properly trained colon and rectal surgeon, like those at the AHN Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence. Our surgeons who are administering this therapy also discuss each case with the Allegheny Health Network Colon and Rectal Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board to get expert opinions on the risks associated and how to best avoid or reduce those.
AHN surgeons in the Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence work together to get peer feedback and insight so you can experience improved outcomes.
Achieving organ preservation in colon and rectal cancer cases is optimal and improves patient outcomes. This is done by removing early, small and superficial tumors from inside the colon or the rectum using a technique called Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEMs). TEMs is performed by a highly skilled and trained surgeon using either laparoscopic or robotic technology. This is an outpatient surgical procedure that in highly effective and can result in cure without major surgery. This may also allow patients to avoid unnecessary chemotherapy or radiation. In order for this to be accomplished safely staging must be completed by a properly trained colon and rectal surgeon using Endoscopic Rectal Ultrasound, which is available through the AHN division of colon and rectal surgery. For tumors in the colon this procedure is done with the colonoscope and is called Endoscopic Mucosal Resection or EMR.
Our radiation oncologists at AHN are led by Alexander V Kirichenko, MD, PhD in collaboration with Germany’s University Hospital Tübingen. This partnership is working to change the way selected rectal cancers are treated by employing Magnetic Resonance Imaging in hybrid with Linear Accelerator (MRI-LINAC) to deliver a high-dose boost to the tumor and avoid surgery.
At AHN, we are investigating using liquid biopsies, a non-invasive test using a simple blood draw, that detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the management of colorectal cancer. Circulating tumor DNA are small fragments of genetic material released by cancer cells into the bloodstream. Unlike traditional biopsies, which require tissue samples from the tumor itself, liquid biopsies are simple and less invasive. They allow our physicians to monitor your cancer more frequently and with less discomfort. These liquid biopsies may provide important information about the presence and behavior of colorectal cancer. Liquid biopsies can track colorectal cancer over time or provide information regarding the utility of chemotherapy to prevent recurrence in earlier stage colorectal cancers. Additionally, these tests can help detect the cancer early, monitor how well treatments are working, and even identify if the cancer has returned, often before symptoms or other tests can do so. Liquid biopsies therefore provide a quicker and easier way to get crucial information about your cancer. Although not a replacement for traditional biopsies, properly integrated into your treatment plan, they can lead to more personalized treatment plans and improved outcomes, making it an important tool in managing colorectal cancer.
The AHN National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer certified Colon and Rectal Cancer Surgery Center of Excellence was the first in Pennsylvania. Our expert multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals include surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, geneticists, survivorship programs, and many healthcare professionals.
James McCormick, D.O., FACS, FASCRS
Chair, Colon and Rectal Cancer Center of Excellence
Richard Fortunato, D.O., FACS, FASCRS
Surgical Lead, Colon and Rectal Cancer Center of Excellence
Division Chief of Medical Oncology and Director of AHNCI Clinical Research
Medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies
Clinical Director of Gastrointestinal and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy, AHNCI
Radiation oncologist specializing in colorectal cancer
Complex Symptom Management and Supportive Care
Director of Body Imaging
Gastroenterology
Pathology – Anatomic
Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology
Find all AHN providers who treat colon cancer and work as part of the Colon and Rectal Center of Excellence on Find Care.
If you want to be tested for or have been diagnosed with colon, rectal or cancer, we’re here to help.
Call (412) 578-HOPE (412) 578-4673 to schedule an appointment at any location within the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute or connect with a nurse navigator.
Early cancer detection saves lives. Find out more about AHN cancer screening dates, locations and eligibility requirements for each screen offered. Then, call to register for your cancer screenings.
“But, I feel healthy.” “But, it takes too long.” We all have our excuses — but a lifesaving colorectal cancer screening is easier than you think.
Your nurse navigator and support professionals will guide you through the process, and doctors will explain everything and answer any questions you or your loved ones have.
Visit our locations page to find a Cancer Institute location near you.
The AHN Cancer Institute is a pioneer in cancer research and participates in clinical trials of new medical oncology therapies that are open for patients who qualify and wish to participate. Patients are screened for consideration with ongoing clinical trials at every stage of their treatment.
Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat cancer with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life, and reduce the risk of cancer returning.
You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.
The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains the goal of the trial and how the study will be conducted. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.
Common criteria for entering a trial are:
Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run ethically, with your rights and safety protected. These rules are in place to ensure that you are not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.
If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking cancer solutions, ask your doctor if you are eligible to participate. See which clinical trials are currently active and open for participation.
There are three ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of AHN, to refer their patients to an AHN Cancer Institute specialist and request their first appointment. You can:
For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.
After referring your patient to an AHN specialist, use the EpicCare Link platform to collaborate with their AHN specialist, view your patient's test results, treatment plan, and progress.
Log in to your EpicCare Link account now.
If you are new to EpicCare Link, or need to request your own EpicCare Link account, read: EpicCare Link for Patient Follow-up, for user instructions and new account request forms.
If you can’t access your patient's AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form, based on their state of residency. Support your patient’s request by downloading the correct medical records release form for them:
EpicCare® is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
EpicCare® Link™ is a trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
Learn more about our appointment options, second opinions, locations, referrals, and resources that are at your disposal.
