Shah's Gastro, Cancer & Robotic Surgery Centre · Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar
Colon cancer surgeon in Ahmedabad · Gota OPD, Ahmedabad · Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar
Last updated: 11 October 2026
A sigmoid cancer is usually removed in a planned operation that joins the bowel again. A blocked bowel, a stuck tumour or spread to the liver can change that plan.
This page is about that decision. It explains who makes it, which findings change it, when a second opinion is worth taking, and what to ask before you sign the consent form. It is not a general guide to colon cancer. For that, see Dr Harsh Shah’s colon cancer treatment page.
Dr Harsh Shah sees you at the Gota OPD, takes your case to the tumour board, explains the plan himself and performs the operation at Apollo Hospital, Bhat.
Shah’s Gastro, Cancer & Robotic Surgery Centre. He trained in super-specialty surgical gastroenterology and is qualified twice over in that field. He has 18 years of experience in GI and cancer surgery, and bowel cancer operations are part of his daily work. The same surgeon sees you from the first visit to the last follow-up.
Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Colon Cancer Surgeon · Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar · Gota OPD, Ahmedabad
Google rating 4.89 from 216 reviews at the Gota clinic, and 4.94 from 18 reviews at Apollo, Bhat.
The plan is not one person’s view. Once the scans are done, every colon cancer goes to a tumour board. The surgeon, the cancer physician, the radiologist and the pathologist look at the same reports and images. The operation you are offered is the one that whole group would choose. Dr Shah then goes through it with you and your family, in plain words, before any date is fixed.
The sigmoid is the last loop of the colon before the rectum. Where the tumour sits on that border decides which set of rules your treatment follows.
A tumour low down, close to the back passage or below a fold of the lining of the abdomen, is treated as a rectal cancer. Rectal cancer has its own scans and its own rules about treatment before surgery. So the first question is simple: how far up is the tumour? The colonoscopy report must say so, and the surgeon checks it himself. A sigmoid cancer above that line follows the colon plan on this page. If yours is lower, the rectal cancer operative plan explains what changes. The rest of the left side of the colon is covered on the left colon cancer decision page.
In a fit patient with a prepared bowel, the sigmoid loop and its lymph nodes come out in one piece. The two ends of the bowel are then joined.
| Part of the plan | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| The operation | Sigmoid colectomy, also called anterior resection. The loop with the cancer is removed and the bowel is joined. |
| The blood vessel | The main artery to this part of the colon (the inferior mesenteric artery) is tied. The surgeon decides whether to tie it high, where it starts, or a little lower, and tells you which. |
| The lymph nodes | The fatty tissue around the bowel, which holds the lymph nodes, comes out whole. This lets the pathologist stage the cancer properly. |
| The margins | A length of healthy bowel is taken on both sides of the tumour. |
| Anything stuck to it | An organ the tumour has grown onto comes out with it, in one piece. It is never peeled off. |
| Bowel preparation | A bowel-cleaning drink together with antibiotic tablets, the day before. Together they lower the risk of infection and of a leak. |
Most planned sigmoid operations end with a join and no stoma. If there is any chance of a stoma, you are told before the operation and you consent to it, every time, even when it is unlikely. The stoma nurse marks a spot on your abdomen beforehand, so that a bag, if needed, sits where you can see and manage it.
Six findings can change a planned sigmoid operation. Each one is looked for before surgery, so it shapes the plan instead of surprising anyone in theatre.
| Finding | What it changes |
|---|---|
| The bowel is blocked or nearly blocked | Whether the bowel can be joined at once, needs a protecting stoma, or needs a stent first. See the next section. |
| The bowel has burst (perforation) | An emergency operation, a wash-out of the abdomen and usually a stoma. It also counts as a high-risk finding later. |
| The tumour is stuck to the bladder, the womb, the small bowel or the abdominal wall | That part comes out with the bowel in one piece. This is planned in advance, often as an open operation, and discussed at the tumour board. |
| Spots in the liver or lungs | The tumour board decides whether they can be removed, and in what order: with the bowel, or in a separate operation. |
| Your age, fitness and nutrition | Fitness is scored at each visit. Anaemia, sugar and weight loss are corrected first. A frail patient may need a different route. |
| The MMR result on the biopsy | It screens for an inherited cause and guides later treatment. A deficient result goes to the tumour board before a date is set. |
A sigmoid cancer can block the bowel, and in India many patients first come this way. The plan then depends on how unwell you are and whether the cancer has spread.
Age alone does not decide the operation. Your daily fitness, your nutrition and your blood count do, and each is checked and improved before a planned date.
Dr Harsh Shah performs the operation himself. Keyhole surgery is the standard for colon cancer, robotic surgery is used where it helps, and open surgery is chosen when it is safer.
Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery gives the same cancer results as open surgery, with a faster recovery. Robotic surgery is an accepted choice in experienced hands. Open surgery is the right call for a bulky tumour, an operation that removes another organ, or an abdomen scarred by earlier surgery. A change from keyhole to open during the operation keeps the cancer operation complete and safe. It is not a failure, and you consent to it in advance. Whatever the approach, the rules stay the same. The vessel is tied, the tumour is not handled or spilled, and it comes out in one piece. Ask who will be operating on the day, and whether that stays true if the date moves.
The final stage is known only after the removed bowel is examined. Four items in that report decide whether chemotherapy is advised, so ask to see them.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lymph nodes: how many were examined, and how many hold cancer | Nodes with cancer usually mean chemotherapy is advised. Too few nodes examined is itself a high-risk finding. |
| Margins | Whether the cut edges are free of cancer. |
| MMR or MSI result | It screens for an inherited cause. In some early stages it means chemotherapy would not help. |
| High-risk features | Growth through the bowel wall, a burst or blocked bowel, or spread into small vessels or nerves. |
If chemotherapy is advised, it usually starts within six to eight weeks of the operation. The cancer physician explains which drugs, and for how long. The first visit after discharge, at about two weeks, is the one where the report is read with you.
Every risk is named at the consent meeting. Your own figures, based on your age, fitness and whether the operation is planned or urgent, are given there in person.
General risks: bleeding that needs a transfusion; a wound infection; clots in the legs or lungs; heart or breathing problems; a problem with the anaesthetic; and a change from keyhole to open surgery. Risks of this operation: a leak from the join, which is more likely on the left side than the right; a bowel that is slow to start working; injury to the ureter, the tube from the kidney that runs close by; a collection of pus; narrowing of the join; and a temporary or permanent stoma. Later: a hernia at the scar, and a blockage from adhesions. The risk of dying is stated plainly, and it is higher after an emergency operation. The cancer can come back even after complete removal, so follow-up and colonoscopy continue for life.
One warning is worth knowing. In the first week, a fast pulse, a fever, new pain in the abdomen, or a patient who was improving and then slips back is treated as a leak until proved otherwise. A scan is done and the consultant surgeon is told at once. It is never watched overnight.
A second opinion is worth taking if the plan skips a step that changes the operation, or if no one explained why a stoma or a refusal was advised.
A second opinion that agrees with your plan is not wasted. You go into the operation with no question left open. Bring the colonoscopy report and photos, the CT on a disc, the biopsy report, the CEA result, recent blood tests and a list of your medicines.
★★★★★
“(Translated by Google) Dr. Harsh Shah's personality is very nice. He always talks in a good way. He has undergone surgery for colon cancer. Without any problem. Yours faithfully.🙏 (Original) ડૉ હર્ષ શાહ નો સ્વાભાવ ખૂબ જ સરસ છે.તેઓ હમેશા સારી રીત વાત કરે છે .મોટા આંતરડા ના કેન્સર ની સર્જરી એમને કરેલ લી છે. કોઈ પ્રકાર ની તકલીફ નાથી .આપનો અભર.🙏”
— Ismailbhai Shaikh, Google review
★★★★★
“Met with Dr. Harsh Shah for the consultation of one of my relative. Dr. Harsh Shah is an exceptional surgical oncologist in Ahmedabad. His expertise in treating complex GI cancers like liver, pancreas, and colon cancers is truly remarkable. He explains everything clearly and gives patients full confidence in their treatment. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a skilled and compassionate cancer specialist.”
— Nagesh Patidar, Google review
★★★★★
“My father has carcinoma of stomach ,Harsh sir did radical gastrectomy and he is recovering very nicely under Dr.Harsh's observation ,he listen each and every complain calmly and with patience and make patient very comfortable during treatment , during procedure and during stay at hospital. we are satisfied with the treatment and very confident about the fully recovery of disease as we are under treatment of Dr.Harsh & team.Thank you Dr.Harsh & his whole team and staff.”
— tina parmar, Google review
Reviews are reproduced exactly as written on Google, including the original spelling. The first describes colon cancer surgery by Dr Harsh Shah; the other two speak about his cancer care more widely.
A patient’s own account after keyhole colon cancer surgery by Dr Harsh Shah, recorded and shared with consent.
The cost depends on the approach, whether the operation is planned or urgent, the days in hospital and any stoma care. A written estimate is given before admission.
Apollo Hospital, Bhat, works with the major insurers and cashless schemes, and the office handles pre-authorisation. If a stay runs longer, an enhancement request is raised at the time. Bring on admission: scans on a disc or drive, the colonoscopy and biopsy reports, your medicines with doses, the insurance card and identification, and one family member who can learn stoma care if it is needed.
Most planned operations end with a join and no stoma. A stoma becomes likely when the bowel is blocked or has burst, when the join looks unsafe, or in an emergency in an unstable patient. If a stoma is made, the plan for closing it is discussed at follow-up.
A sigmoid cancer follows the colon plan and goes straight to surgery in most cases. A cancer low enough to count as rectal has its own scans, and treatment before surgery is often considered. That is why the tumour's height is checked first.
Sometimes. In a patient who is not fit for a big emergency operation, or whose cancer has spread, a metal stent can open the bowel. A planned operation can follow a few weeks later.
After an uncomplicated keyhole operation, usually four to five days. You go home once you are eating, your bowel is working, your pain is controlled with tablets and you can walk on your own.
It depends on the pathology report. If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, or there are high-risk features, chemotherapy is usually advised. If not, regular checks may be all you need.
Not by itself. Fitness, nutrition and other illnesses matter more than age. They are measured, and improved where possible, before the plan is made.
Shah’s Gastro, Cancer & Robotic Surgery Centre — Gota, Ahmedabad
Consultations, review of scans, follow-up and surveillance.
Google: Dr Harsh Shah · 4.89 from 216 reviews
Directions to the Gota clinic · +91-63555-64601
Apollo Hospital — Bhat, Gandhinagar
Apollo Hospital International Limited, Plot No. 1 A, GIDC Bhat Industrial Estate, Bhat, Gandhinagar.
Google: Dr Harsh Shah – Robotic GI Surgeon · 4.94 from 18 reviews
Directions to Apollo, Bhat · WhatsApp +91-63555-64601
Families come to Ahmedabad for colon cancer surgery from across Gujarat — Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Nadiad, Anand, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Kutch — and from southern Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh.
Told you need an operation for a sigmoid colon cancer? The colonoscopy and biopsy reports, the CT scan on a disc, the CEA blood test and any earlier operation notes can be sent ahead of your appointment, so the consultation starts with them already read. Treatment is decided at the consultation, after examination. Call +91-63555-64601 · Send the reports ahead on WhatsApp
Swasth Parivar: twice a month, practical advice on recovery, diet and warning signs. No advertising. Stop any time.
Your number is used for these updates and for the clinic to reach you. It is never sold or passed on. To stop, reply STOP on WhatsApp.
