The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center takes a team approach. 

Our disease-specific teams include doctors and other healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines with experience treating your cancer. Together, these experts create an individualized plan of treatment designed to meet your needs, based on the biology and stage of your cancer.

Your treatment for colon and rectal cancer may include:

Minimally Invasive Colorectal Cancer Surgery 

Surgical options for colon and rectal cancers feature the latest minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. These approaches utilize smaller incisions so you can recover more quickly.

  • Englewood Health’s team of colorectal surgeons has performed more than 1,000 robotic surgeries with excellent outcomes and very low complication rates. 
  • The team is able to perform complex surgeries, such as sphincter-sparing and reconstructive surgeries that decrease the need for a colostomy bag. 
  • Our surgeons are at the forefront of their field. In fact, Anna Serur, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Englewood Health, has been a member of the rectal cancer committee of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons since 2018. The committee is comprised of leading colorectal surgeons who establish guidelines for the treatment of colorectal cancers, based on results of the latest research.
  • Our surgeons work closely with our medical oncologists to develop treatment plans when multiple types of therapies (surgery and chemotherapy, for example) offer the best chance of a good outcome.
Doctor with patient

Medical Treatment of Colon and Rectal Cancer 

Systemic therapy is any type of cancer treatment that affects the entire body. The most common is chemotherapy. Other types of systemic therapy are hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. 

  • Our colorectal cancer medical oncologists use drugs that specifically target certain aspects of the tumor. These medications not only improve outcomes, but also minimize side effects. 
  • Our Infusion Center, located on the Englewood Hospital campus, offers a comfortable and convenient experience for patients returning often for therapy. We also offer medical treatments at our Jersey City and Fair Lawn locations. 
  • If you have colorectal cancer with certain genetic features, you may be able to receive immunotherapy—medication designed to boost the power of your immune system to find and kill cancer cells. Your doctor will let you know if this is an option for you.
  • Our oncologists participate in many clinical trials evaluating promising new treatment options for colon and rectal cancers. A clinical trial may give you access to a cutting-edge therapy that is not yet available as a standard treatment. Our oncologists will let you know if you may be eligible for any clinical trials. Your decision to participate is entirely up to you.

Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer

  • Radiation therapy is not often used to treat colon cancer but can be used for some people with rectal cancer. 
  • Englewood Hospital’s radiation oncology team offers therapy that reduces side effects by sparing as much healthy tissue as possible, using state-of-the-art equipment at the Coe Radiation Oncology Center at our main Englewood Hospital campus. 

Treatment of Metastatic Colon and Rectal Cancer

Cancers of the colon and rectum that have grown to an advanced stage may spread to other organs, such as the liver and the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen). 

Our cancer team includes specialists who are experienced in the care of patients with liver metastases and peritoneal carcinomatosis (cancer of the peritoneum that spread there from another site). 

If you have metastatic colorectal cancer, we offer the latest treatments—such as surgery, targeted medications, immunotherapy, and interventional radiology therapies—and match you with those most likely to be effective for you.

We’ve really come a long way in being able to use medications that specifically target certain aspects of the cancer pathway that not only improve outcomes, but also make therapies more tolerable for the patient. If a patient has advanced or late-stage cancer, our team can identify the biology of the tumor at the molecular level and develop a treatment plan that targets the cancer at the cellular level.

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Minaxi Jhawer, MD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology 

Minaxi P. Jhawer, MD Headshot
Two doctors with truebeam machine

Geriatric Oncology for Colon & Rectal Cancer

At Englewood Health, we offer specialized care for older adults diagnosed with colon & rectal cancer. Our team focuses on the unique needs of elderly patients, tailoring treatment plans to address both the cancer and any age-related health concerns. With a comprehensive approach that balances effective cancer treatment and maintaining quality of life, we provide personalized care that takes into account the patient's overall well-being and treatment tolerability.

Survivorship Services 

After completing multidisciplinary therapy, patients are guided through a comprehensive survivorship meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to review the treatments received and establish a personalized plan for ongoing surveillance and follow-up care. Our team will assess your current health status, discuss strategies for monitoring your recovery, and help ensure you have the necessary support for long-term well-being following colon & rectal cancer treatment.