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Colon Cancer Care
Colorectal Cancer Specialists at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas
Colon and Rectal Cancer Evaluation, Surgical Planning and Surgery
Blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, cramping belly pain, or unexplained weight loss can raise concern about colorectal cancer. So can a colonoscopy that found a polyp or a tumor. These symptoms often have other causes, but they should be checked promptly, because colorectal cancer found early is usually easier to treat.
At Surgical Associates of Southern Texas, Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist, reviews your colonoscopy, biopsy, and imaging results, explains your diagnosis in plain language, and plans the role of surgery in your treatment. He sees patients at offices in Katy and Sugar Land, serving Richmond, Fulshear, Stafford, Fort Bend County, and Greater Houston.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, general surgeon and surgical oncologist treating colon and rectal cancer in Katy and Sugar Land, TX
- Dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery, 2026 (see listing)
- Highly reviewed: rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Specialized in colon, rectal, liver, and pancreatic cancer surgery, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, hernia repair, and gallbladder surgery
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say About Dr. Shakir
Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Real experiences from patients treated in Katy and Sugar Land.
Jump to a section
- At a glance
- What is colorectal cancer?
- Risk factors
- Symptoms and when to see a doctor
- Screening and early detection
- How it is diagnosed and staged
- Colorectal cancer stages
- Is surgery always needed?
- Meet your surgeon
- How treatment is chosen
- Types of surgery
- Treatments beyond surgery
- Before surgery
- Recovery and follow-up
- Risks and complications
- Patient reviews
- Why choose us
- Insurance
- Locations
- FAQs
- Schedule a consultation
At a Glance
Colorectal Cancer at a Glance
- What it is
- Cancer that starts in the colon or rectum, the two parts of the large intestine. Most colorectal cancers begin as polyps, small growths on the inner lining that change slowly over years.
- Who gets it
- Risk rises with age and is higher with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, long-standing inflammatory bowel disease, or an inherited syndrome. It is becoming more common in adults younger than 50.
- Common signs
- Blood in or on the stool, bowel changes that last more than a few days, cramping or belly pain, weakness or fatigue, and unintended weight loss. Early cancer often causes no symptoms.
- Screening
- Adults at average risk should start at age 45 and continue through 75, with a stool test or a visual exam such as colonoscopy. People at higher risk may need to start earlier.
- Main treatments
- Surgery to remove the cancer and nearby lymph nodes, sometimes combined with chemotherapy, radiation (mainly for rectal cancer), targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, depending on the stage.
- Who treats it
- A care team that often includes a gastroenterologist, a surgeon, and a medical oncologist, plus a radiation oncologist for many rectal cancers. Dr. Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
- Urgent warning signs
- Heavy rectal bleeding, black stools with dizziness or fainting, severe belly pain, or a swollen belly with vomiting and no passing of gas or stool. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
- Where
- Offices in Katy and Sugar Land, TX. Call 713-955-9191.
Cancer Basics
What Is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or rectum, the two parts of the large intestine. Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer. Cancer that begins in the rectum, the last several inches of the bowel before the anus, is called rectal cancer. Because they have much in common, they are often grouped together.
Most colorectal cancers start as polyps, small growths on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Most polyps are not cancer, but some, especially a type called adenomas, can slowly turn into cancer over a period of years. Finding and removing polyps during a colonoscopy can stop cancer before it starts, which is why colorectal cancer is considered largely preventable.
How Colorectal Cancer Grows and Spreads
Colorectal cancer begins in the innermost lining of the bowel and can grow outward through the layers of the bowel wall. Over time it may spread to nearby lymph nodes and then to distant organs, most often the liver or lungs. How far the cancer has grown and spread is its stage, and the stage guides treatment.
Why Colon and Rectal Cancer Are Treated Differently
Colon cancer is usually treated with surgery first, with chemotherapy afterward for some stages. The rectum sits deep in the pelvis, close to the muscles that control bowel movements. For that reason, rectal cancer is more often treated with radiation and chemotherapy before surgery, and it may need a different operation.
Risk Factors
Who Is at Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
Anyone can develop colorectal cancer, but the risk is higher with older age, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and certain bowel or inherited conditions. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer, and some people who are diagnosed have no known risk factors.
Colorectal Cancer in Adults Younger Than 50
Colorectal cancer is becoming more common in people younger than 50, and the reason is not yet clear. This is one reason screening now begins at 45. At any age, do not dismiss rectal bleeding or lasting bowel changes as nothing.
Lowering Your Risk
Getting screened on time, so polyps can be found and removed, is one of the most effective steps you can take. Not smoking, limiting alcohol, staying at a healthy weight, being active, and eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains with less red and processed meat may also lower your risk. If you or a close relative has a history of colorectal cancer, polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, ask your doctor whether you need earlier or more frequent screening.
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
- Older age; colorectal cancer is much more common after 50
- A parent, sibling, or child with colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps, especially if diagnosed before 50
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain polyps
- A personal history of certain other cancers, such as ovarian cancer
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease for many years
- An inherited syndrome such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Past radiation to the abdomen or pelvis
- Racial and ethnic background; rates are higher among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black Americans
Risk Factors You Can Change
- Overweight or obesity
- Physical inactivity
- A diet high in red and processed meats
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to higher risk
Warning Signs
What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
Early colorectal cancer often causes no symptoms, which is why screening matters. When symptoms do occur, the most common are blood in the stool and a change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days:
- Diarrhea, constipation, or narrower stools that last more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
- Bright red blood from the rectum
- Blood in the stool, which can make it look dark brown or black
- Cramping, belly pain, or lower abdominal or pelvic pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
- Iron-deficiency anemia (a low blood count) found on a blood test
These symptoms are more often caused by something other than cancer, such as hemorrhoids, an infection, or irritable bowel syndrome. Hemorrhoids in particular can cause bleeding that looks like a sign of colorectal cancer, so bleeding should be checked, not assumed to be hemorrhoids. Learn more about hemorrhoids and the signs and symptoms of colon cancer.
When to See a Doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have:
- Any rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days
- Unexplained weight loss or fatigue
- Iron-deficiency anemia without a clear cause
- A positive stool-based screening test, which needs a follow-up colonoscopy
New symptoms are usually evaluated first by your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist, often with a colonoscopy. A surgeon becomes involved when a colonoscopy or scan finds a cancer, or a polyp that cannot be removed safely during colonoscopy.
When Bowel Symptoms Need Emergency Care
A colorectal tumor can sometimes block the bowel or cause heavy bleeding. Seek care right away for heavy rectal bleeding or clots, black stools with dizziness or fainting, severe belly pain, a hard, swollen belly with vomiting, or being unable to pass gas or stool. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Early Detection
Colorectal Cancer Screening: When to Start and Which Test
Adults at average risk should start colorectal cancer screening at age 45, according to both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Screening can find cancer before symptoms start, when it is often easier to treat, and some tests can find and remove polyps before they become cancer.
Recommended Screening Ages
- Ages 45 to 75: regular screening is recommended for adults at average risk.
- Ages 76 to 85: whether to keep screening is decided with your doctor, based on your health, life expectancy, past screening results, and preferences.
- Over 85: the ACS advises that screening should stop.
Screening Test Options
Several tests are recommended. Each has a different schedule:
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): a take-home stool test, every year
- High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test: a take-home stool test, every year
- Multitarget stool DNA test: a take-home stool test, every 1 to 3 years
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy): every 5 years
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: every 5 years, or every 10 years with a yearly FIT
- Colonoscopy: every 10 years
Any abnormal result on a test other than colonoscopy should be followed by a timely colonoscopy. The best test is the one you will actually complete, so talk with your primary care doctor about which one fits you.
Who Should Start Screening Earlier
You may need to start before 45, be screened more often, or have colonoscopy specifically if you have a strong family history of colorectal cancer or certain polyps, a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, an inherited syndrome such as Lynch syndrome or FAP, or past radiation to the abdomen or pelvis. Screening is for people without symptoms. If you have symptoms, you need a diagnostic evaluation rather than a screening test.
Diagnosis
How Is Colorectal Cancer Diagnosed?
Colorectal cancer is diagnosed with a biopsy, a small sample of tissue that is usually taken during a colonoscopy. If cancer is found, more tests show whether it has spread, which sets its stage. At your consultation, Dr. Shakir reviews these results with you and explains whether any further tests are needed before treatment.
History, Exam, and Colonoscopy With Biopsy
Your evaluation includes your symptoms, your personal and family history, and a physical exam, often with a digital rectal exam. A colonoscopy lets a doctor see the full length of the colon and rectum, remove polyps, and take biopsies of anything abnormal. A sigmoidoscopy examines only the lower part of the colon.
Imaging and Blood Tests
A CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis looks for spread to the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes. Rectal cancer usually also needs an MRI of the pelvis to show how deeply the tumor has grown. A PET scan is used in some cases. Blood tests check for anemia and measure carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). No blood test can diagnose colorectal cancer, but a CEA level before treatment gives a starting point for follow-up.
Testing the Tumor
The biopsy or removed tumor may be tested for specific features, such as mismatch repair deficiency. These results can point to an inherited condition like Lynch syndrome, in which case genetic counseling may be recommended, and they help guide which medicines may work best.
Please bring your colonoscopy and pathology reports, imaging reports (and images, if you have them), a list of your medications, and your family history of cancer to your visit.
Staging
What Are the Stages of Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is staged from 0 to IV based on how deeply the tumor has grown into the bowel wall, whether it has reached nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to distant organs. Final staging often depends on examining the lymph nodes removed during surgery.
Stage 0
Abnormal cells are found only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum. This is sometimes called carcinoma in situ and has not yet invaded deeper.
Stage I
Cancer has grown into the deeper layers of the bowel wall but has not spread to lymph nodes.
Stage II
Cancer has grown through the bowel wall, and may reach its outer layer or nearby organs, but has not spread to lymph nodes.
Stage III
Cancer has spread to one or more nearby lymph nodes but not to distant parts of the body.
Stage IV
Cancer has spread to distant sites, such as the liver, lungs, distant lymph nodes, or the lining of the abdomen. This is also called metastatic colorectal cancer.
Your stage, together with the features of the tumor and your overall health, guides your treatment. Ask your care team to explain what your stage means for you.
Role of Surgery
Does Colorectal Cancer Always Need Surgery?
Surgery is the main treatment for colorectal cancer that has not spread widely, and it is part of treatment for most people with stage 0 to III disease. The type of surgery, and whether other treatment comes first, depends on the stage and on whether the cancer is in the colon or the rectum.
- Very early cancer in a polyp: may be removed completely during a colonoscopy. If the pathology shows higher-risk features, surgery to remove that part of the bowel may still be advised.
- Stage I to III colon cancer: surgery is usually the first treatment. Chemotherapy afterward is recommended for stage III and for some stage II cancers.
- Stage II and III rectal cancer: radiation, chemotherapy, or both are often given before surgery to shrink the tumor. For some people whose tumor disappears on testing, close monitoring (active surveillance) may be an option in place of immediate surgery.
- Stage IV: treatment usually centers on medicines. Surgery may still remove the main tumor and a limited number of spots in the liver or lungs in selected patients, or relieve a blockage or bleeding.
Why a Surgical Consultation Helps Early
Seeing a surgical oncologist soon after diagnosis helps your team plan the right order of treatment from the start. This matters most for rectal cancer, where treatment before surgery is common, and for cancer that has spread to the liver or lungs, where surgery may be combined with other treatment. Learn more about surgical oncology.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your Colorectal Cancer Surgeon
Murtaza Shakir, MD
Board-Certified General Surgeon & Surgical Oncologist
Colorectal cancer care at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas is led by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, who is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Board certification
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
Medical degree
Aga Khan University
Residency
General Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Fellowship
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Surgical practice includes
Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery (2026). Learn more about our general surgery services.
Treatment Planning
How Your Colorectal Cancer Treatment Plan Is Chosen
There is no single treatment that fits every colorectal cancer. Your plan is built around your cancer and your health, and it is decided together with you and the other doctors involved in your care, such as your medical oncologist.
Stage
How deeply the tumor has grown, and whether it has reached lymph nodes or distant organs, determines whether surgery comes first and whether other treatment is needed.
Colon or Rectum
The tumor’s location decides which section of bowel is removed. Rectal tumors, especially those close to the anus, are often treated before surgery and need careful planning to protect bowel control.
Features of the Tumor
Results such as mismatch repair status and other biomarkers help predict how the cancer will behave and which medicines are most likely to work.
Blockage or Bleeding
A tumor that is blocking the bowel or causing heavy bleeding may need treatment sooner, and sometimes an operation before the rest of the plan.
Your Overall Health
Heart and lung conditions, diabetes, nutrition, blood thinners, previous abdominal surgery, and your ability to have anesthesia all affect which approach is safest.
Your Goals and Concerns
Bowel function, the possibility of an ostomy, work, and family all matter. Dr. Shakir explains each step so you can make decisions that fit your life.
Surgery Options
Types of Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Colorectal cancer surgery removes the tumor with a margin of healthy bowel and the nearby lymph nodes, then reconnects the bowel whenever it is safe to do so. The operation depends on where the tumor is and how far it has grown.
Polypectomy and Local Excision
Most polyps and some very early cancers can be removed during a colonoscopy. A polypectomy cuts the polyp off at its base. A local excision removes a small cancer on the inner lining along with a little surrounding healthy tissue, without an abdominal incision.
Partial Colectomy (Hemicolectomy)
A partial colectomy removes the section of colon that contains the cancer, with a margin of normal colon on each side. This is usually about one-fourth to one-third of the colon. At least 12 nearby lymph nodes are removed so they can be checked for cancer, and the healthy ends are joined back together (an anastomosis). Depending on the tumor’s location, the operation may be called a right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, or sigmoid colectomy. Removing the entire colon is rarely needed for colon cancer.
Surgery for Rectal Cancer
Most rectal cancer operations remove the part of the rectum that contains the tumor, along with the surrounding fatty tissue and lymph nodes, and then reconnect the bowel. When a tumor involves the muscles that control bowel movements, the rectum and anus may need to be removed, and a permanent colostomy is created.
Colostomy or Ileostomy
An ostomy is an opening on the belly that lets stool pass into a bag. It may be needed when the bowel cannot be safely reconnected, when the bowel is blocked, or to protect a low connection in the rectum while it heals. Most ostomies are temporary and are closed in a second, smaller operation, often 2 to 6 months later. Some are permanent. Most people having colon cancer surgery do not need an ostomy, and if you might, you will be taught how to care for it before you go home.
Surgery When Cancer Has Spread
If colorectal cancer has spread to only one or a few spots in the liver or lungs, removing them may help people live longer and, for some, may cure the cancer. This is usually done along with, or after, treatment of the main tumor. Surgery may also be used to relieve a blockage or bleeding when cure is not possible.
Open Surgery
- Approach: one longer incision on the abdomen
- Often used for: large tumors, cancer that has grown into nearby organs, emergency surgery for a blockage or perforation, and dense scar tissue from earlier operations
- Recovery: usually a longer hospital stay and recovery than minimally invasive surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Approach: laparoscopic or robotic surgery through several small incisions, using a camera and special instruments
- Often used for: many colon and rectal cancers when the tumor and your anatomy allow it
- Recovery: often faster, with a possibly earlier discharge
- Cancer outcomes: similar to open surgery when performed by an experienced surgeon
Not every patient is a candidate for a minimally invasive approach. The right operation depends on the tumor, any previous abdominal surgery, and your overall health, and Dr. Shakir explains which approach he recommends for you and why.
Beyond Surgery
Treatments That May Be Combined With Surgery
Many people with colorectal cancer receive more than one type of treatment. Surgery removes the tumor, while medicines and radiation can lower the chance of the cancer coming back, shrink a tumor before surgery, or control cancer that has spread. These treatments are usually given by medical and radiation oncologists, before or after surgery.
- Chemotherapy: drugs that kill cancer cells; often given after surgery for stage III and some stage II colon cancer, before or after surgery for rectal cancer, and for stage IV cancer
- Radiation therapy: high-energy rays aimed at the tumor; used mainly for rectal cancer, often with chemotherapy before surgery, and rarely for colon cancer
- Targeted therapy: drugs aimed at specific features of cancer cells, chosen with the help of biomarker testing and used mostly for advanced cancer
- Immunotherapy: medicines that help the immune system fight cancer, used for some colorectal cancers with specific features such as mismatch repair deficiency
- Ablation: destroying small tumors, most often in the liver, with heat or freezing
Clinical trials of new treatments may also be an option. Ask your care team whether one is right for you.
Preparing for Surgery
Before Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Preparation starts at your consultation, where Dr. Shakir reviews your results, health, and medications and explains the planned operation. Colorectal cancer surgery is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital, and the surgical team supports you before, during, and after the operation.
What Preparation May Include
- Completing staging tests
- Review of your medical history and medications
- Preoperative blood tests and, when needed, heart or lung evaluation
- Anesthesia evaluation
- Instructions on eating, drinking, and any bowel preparation or antibiotics to take before surgery
- Teaching about ostomy care, if an ostomy is possible
- Stopping smoking, staying active, and eating well before surgery
- Planning for help at home after discharge
See our pre-operative care guidance.
What to Tell the Surgical Team
- Blood thinners and aspirin
- All prescription and over-the-counter medicines
- Supplements
- Bleeding problems
- Diabetes, heart, lung, or kidney conditions
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Chemotherapy or radiation you have already received
- Allergies
Do not stop prescription medication unless instructed by the appropriate healthcare professional.
After Surgery
Recovery After Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Recovery happens in two phases: a hospital stay while your bowel starts working again, then several weeks of gradual recovery at home. Minimally invasive surgery often allows a faster recovery and an earlier discharge than open surgery.
- Pain control: pain is expected for a few days and is managed with medication.
- Eating: you may have only liquids for the first day or two; most people eat solid food within a few days.
- Walking: getting up and walking soon after surgery helps your bowel recover and lowers the risk of blood clots.
- Bowel habits: bowel movements may be more frequent or irregular for a while, especially after rectal surgery.
- Ostomy care: if you have an ostomy, you will learn how to care for it before you leave the hospital.
- Activity: avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until cleared.
- Pathology results: the final report on the tumor, margins, and lymph nodes is reviewed at your follow-up visit and helps decide whether chemotherapy is recommended.
- Emotional support: it is normal to feel anxious or low after a cancer diagnosis and surgery. Tell your team so they can help you find support.
For more detail, see our post-operative care instructions, pain management, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pages.
When to Call the Office
Call the office if you have a fever, increasing redness, warmth, or drainage from an incision, nausea or vomiting that keeps you from eating, no gas or bowel movements, pain not controlled by your medication, signs of dehydration, or problems with your ostomy.
Follow-Up and Surveillance After Treatment
Colorectal cancer can come back even after successful treatment, so regular follow-up is important. Follow-up commonly includes an exam and blood tests, including CEA, every 3 to 6 months for the first few years, with CT scans and a colonoscopy about one year after surgery. Later visits and tests are scheduled based on your stage and earlier results.
When to Get Emergency Care After Surgery
After surgery, seek care right away for severe or worsening belly pain or a hard, swollen belly, fever with chills, chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, a painful swollen leg, heavy bleeding from the rectum, ostomy or incision, or vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Surgery Risks
Risks and Possible Complications of Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Colorectal surgery is a major operation, and complications can occur. Dr. Shakir reviews the risks that apply to your operation and health before surgery. Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, and steroid use can slow healing, so improving these before surgery helps.
- Bleeding
- Infection, most often of the incision
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Ileus, when the bowel is slow to start working again and eating is delayed
- Anastomotic leak, an uncommon but serious leak where the bowel was reconnected, which can cause pain and fever and may need further treatment or surgery
- Scar tissue (adhesions) that can rarely block the bowel later
- Problems with the incision, including opening of the wound or a later hernia at the incision site
- Changes in bowel, bladder, or sexual function after rectal surgery, because nearby nerves run through the pelvis
- Reactions to anesthesia
Following your preparation and recovery instructions closely helps lower the risk of complications.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Surgical Associates of Southern Texas for Colorectal Cancer Care?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology and treats colon and rectal cancer at offices in Katy and Sugar Land.
- Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Practice includes colon, rectal, liver and pancreatic cancers
- Experience with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver
- Diagnosis, stage and options explained in plain language
- Consultations in Katy and Sugar Land
Insurance Coverage
Insurance for Colorectal Cancer Care
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts many major insurance plans for colorectal cancer evaluation and surgery, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Our office can confirm whether your specific plan participates and whether a referral or prior authorization is needed before your visit.
Coverage, network participation, authorization requirements, and your share of the cost vary by plan. You can also review the insurance accepted for surgical care at our practice.
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are only some of the plans we accept. Plan-specific details are on our Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield pages. If your plan is not listed, contact our office and our team will help verify it.
Insurance participation and benefits vary by individual plan. Verification does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurer to verify benefits before treatment.
Our Locations
Two Convenient Fort Bend County Offices
Learn more about our Katy and Sugar Land practices, or view all locations.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Serves: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cinco Ranch and West Houston
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Serves: Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston
Approximate Drive Times
From West Houston (Energy Corridor): about 15 minutes to Katy, or 25 to 30 minutes to Sugar Land.
From North Houston: about 40 to 50 minutes to either office, depending on traffic.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorectal Cancer
At what age should I start colon cancer screening?
Adults at average risk should start at age 45 and continue through age 75, according to the USPSTF and the American Cancer Society. Between 76 and 85, the decision is made with your doctor. People at higher risk may need to start earlier.
Can young people get colon cancer?
Yes. Colorectal cancer is much more common after 50, but it is becoming more common in adults younger than 50. Rectal bleeding or lasting bowel changes should be checked at any age.
Are all colon polyps cancer?
No. Most polyps are not cancer, but some types, especially adenomas, can turn into cancer over time. Removing polyps during a colonoscopy lowers the risk of colorectal cancer.
Will I need surgery for colon cancer?
Most people with colon cancer that has not spread widely have surgery as part of their treatment. Some very early cancers can be removed during a colonoscopy, and treatment for cancer that has spread usually centers on medicines.
How much of my colon will be removed?
A partial colectomy usually removes about one-fourth to one-third of the colon, along with nearby lymph nodes. The healthy ends are then reconnected, so most people do not need an ostomy.
Will I need a colostomy bag?
Most people having colon cancer surgery do not need an ostomy. An ostomy is more likely with some rectal cancers or an emergency operation, and it is often temporary and closed a few months later.
Can colon cancer surgery be done laparoscopically or robotically?
Many colon and rectal cancer operations can be done through small incisions with laparoscopic or robotic techniques, with cancer outcomes similar to open surgery. Whether this fits you depends on the tumor, previous surgery, and your health.
Will I need chemotherapy after surgery?
It depends on your stage. Chemotherapy is usually recommended after surgery for stage III colon cancer and for some stage II cancers with higher-risk features. Your medical oncologist makes this recommendation using your pathology results.
How long is recovery after colon cancer surgery?
You stay in the hospital until you are eating, your bowels are working, and your pain is controlled. Most people return to many daily activities over several weeks, avoiding heavy lifting until cleared, and recovery is often faster after minimally invasive surgery.
Is colon cancer hereditary?
Most colorectal cancers are not inherited, but a small share are caused by syndromes such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis. A strong family history raises your risk, so tell your doctor, who may recommend earlier screening or genetic counseling.
Sources and references
- Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Patient Version, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Colorectal Cancer Guideline: How Often to Have Screening Tests, American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Colorectal Cancer: Screening (Recommendation), U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
- Surgery for Colon Cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Colon Cancer, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS)
Reviewed by the Review Team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For heavy rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, vomiting with a swollen belly, or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.
Schedule a Colorectal Cancer Consultation
Has a colonoscopy or scan found a colon or rectal cancer, or a polyp that could not be removed during colonoscopy? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Murtaza Shakir to understand your results, whether more tests are needed, and which operation fits your cancer and health. Offices in Katy and Sugar Land serve Richmond, Fulshear and Greater Houston.
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