Colon and Rectal Surgery in Knoxville, TN
Your intestines help your body absorb nutrients from the food you eat and process then discard as waste. Problems of the intestines and colon may include polyps, cancer and inflammatory conditions.

Other Colon and Rectal Conditions Include:
- Colon cancer, rectal cancer, and anal cancer
- Diverticular disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis)
- Restorative procedures for Ulcerative colitis and treatment of abdominal and perianal disease
- Inherited syndromes of colon and rectal cancer
- Precancerous conditions of anus and rectum (dysplasia) and surveillance
- Hemorrhoids
- Complex anal fistula and abscess
- Anal fissure
- Fecal incontinence including sacral nerve stimulator
- Rectal prolapse
- Pelvic floor disorder
- Colonic inertia
- Disorders of colostomy and ileostomy
Early Detection and Screening
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Colon and Rectal Cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed for men and women in the United States. An estimated 53,000 Americans die from Colon and Rectal Cancer each year.
Fortunately, when Colon and Rectal cancer is detected and diagnosed in an early stage, it can often be treated and cured. There are more than 1.5 million Colon and Rectal Cancer survivors in the United States.
Early diagnosis is the key to survival. The American Cancer Society now recommends Colon Cancer Screening for adults beginning at age 45 and earlier if you have a family history of Colon and Rectal cancer or have an inflammatory bowel disease.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Colon and Rectal Cancer
- Ongoing constipation or diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Blood in your stool
- Change in bowel habits
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sometimes colon and rectal cancer may have no symptoms at all
Treatment
The type of treatment you undergo depends on the stage of your cancer and other factors. Treatments like Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Immunotherapy and Surgery may be combined or used separately to address your cancer.
Early Stage Colon and Rectal Cancer
In early stages many polyps and small cancers can be removed during a colonoscopy. This procedure involves inserting a small tube with a video camera into the patient’s rectum to see inside the colon. A polypectomy or local excision may be used to remove the polyp or cancer from the inside wall of the colon.
Bowel Resection
A Partial Colectomy, Hemicolectomy, or Segmental Resection is the removal of part of the colon. Your surgeon will remove the section of the colon with the cancer, along with a small part of healthy colon on each side. The amount of colon removed depends on the size and location of your cancer. The sections of your remaining cancer are re-attached.

Your surgeon will explain and discuss the best treatment options with you. Treatments for individuals will vary depending on the stage and location of the tumor, the patient’s overall health, potential side effects of treatment, and medications the patient may be taking.
Video
Other than skin cancers, colon and rectal cancr is the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Premier Colon and Rectal Surgeon Dr. Sung Lee explains the risks of colonrectal disease and why you shouldn’t skip your screening colonoscopy in this segment of the “Living East Tennesee” program on WATE TV-6 in Knoxville.
FORT SANDERS SURGEONS
FORT SANDERS REGIONAL
1819 Clinch Avenue, Suite 200
Knoxville, TN 37916
865.524.3695
Sung G. Lee, MD
General Surgery and Colon and Rectal Surgery
Fellowship: Colon and Rectal Surgery
Gregory P. Midis, MD, FACS
Surgical Oncology
Board Certified: General, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Fellowship: Surgical Oncology; Colon and Rectal Surgery
NORTH KNOXVILLE SURGEONS
NORTH KNOXVILLE MEDICAL CENTER
7714 Conner Road, Suites 103 & 104
Powell, TN 37849
865.938.8121
PARKWEST SURGEONS
PARKWEST
9430 Park West Boulevard, Suite 310
Knoxville, TN 37923
865.690.5263
Michael E. Kelly, MD, FACS
General Surgery
Fellowship: Advanced GI and Minimally Invasive Surgery
PREMIER CLEVELAND SURGEONS
PREMIER SURGICAL CLEVELAND
2275 Chambliss Ave. NW, Suite D
Cleveland, TN 37311
423.472.5423
PREMIER LAWSON GROUP SURGEONS
PREMIER SURGICAL LAWSON GROUP
101 Med Tech Parkway, Suite 405
Johnson City, TN 37604
423.975.5650