Colon and Rectal Surgery

Our colon and rectal surgeons offer the latest medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Treatment includes benign and malignant conditions.

Colon and Rectal Surgery: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

Patients count on our advanced training and commitment to providing the most effective, most efficient and safest treatment options.
We are among a limited number of institutions in the country to offer one of the latest surgical approaches, the 5x5 protocol, as an aggressive form of rectal cancer treatment.
We offer additional world-class cancer treatment at our Colorectal Cancer Center, part of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
Working with other specialists, our team provides consistent and seamless treatment for patients by performing routine screening examinations and surgically treating colon and rectal conditions when necessary.

Patient Perspectives | Gary Waymire – Colorectal Cancer

After a large polyp was discovered in Gary Waymire's rectum following a routine colonoscopy, he sought a second opinion at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Johns Hopkins team used a series of aggressive and innovative surgical procedures as part of Gary’s treatment. Now cancer-free, Gary makes the most out of life’s simple pleasures, including walking 8 to 9 miles each day and spending precious moments with his wife at home in Virginia.

Conditions We Treat

We specialize in the surgical treatment of colon and rectal diseases, including:

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Fecal Incontinence: Causes, Risk Factors and Treatments | Colorectal Surgeon Susan Gearhart

Colon and rectal surgeon Susan Gearhart discusses the causes, risk factors and treatment options available for individuals diagnosed with fecal incontinence, including Johns Hopkins’ multidisciplinary team approach to administering care.

Our Advanced Treatment Approaches

Your physician will talk with you about which is the best option for your condition:

Robotic surgery
Minimally invasive surgery, including laparoendoscopic surgery
Transanal endoscopic surgery
Cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy (HIPEC)
5x5 Protocol

5x5 Rectal Cancer Treatment Protocol | Q&A

Bashar Safar, chief of colorectal surgery, describes one of the latest approaches against advanced stage rectal cancer: the 5x5 protocol. As an aggressive form of rectal cancer treatment, the 5x5 protocol delivers 5 grays (Gy) of radiation to patients for five days for a total of 25 Gy.

5x5 – Latest in Rectal Cancer Treatment

Johns Hopkins colon and rectal cancer surgeons continue to lead the way in medical advancements aimed at colon and rectal cancer therapies.

What is the 5x5 protocol?

The 5x5 protocol administers 5 grays (Gy) of radiation for five days for a total of 25 Gy in combination with full-dose chemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer. As a result, patients receive a more consolidated dose of chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery. This systemic approach is a break from the more conventional method of delivering radiation over a longer five-week period.

Advantages of the 5x5 protocol:

A shorter, more aggressive approach to rectal cancer treatment
Ability to deliver chemotherapy prior to surgery
More convenient for patients

The future of the 5x5 protocol

Johns Hopkins researchers will soon publish the results from a 5x5 protocol study and the outcomes of 30 to 40 patients who have undergone this procedure, nationally.

Your surgeon will work with you to determine the best treatment plan based on your diagnosis and circumstance.