Last updated: 05-Nov-2026
Have your reports and a list of questions? Send them to Dr Harsh Shah’s team on WhatsApp. · Call +91-63555-64601
Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Gastro & Cancer Surgeon · Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
18 years of experience in operating on the rectum, colon, stomach, liver and pancreas. He trained at Maulana Azad Medical College and GB Pant Hospital in Delhi.
In short
A rectal cancer plan has several parts: the scans, the order of treatment, the operation and life afterwards. Take a short written list of questions to every visit and note the answers.
The questions below are grouped by stage of the journey, so you can ask what matters now and keep the rest for later.
The full approach to this cancer is on the rectal cancer surgery with Dr Harsh Shah page. This page is a checklist you can carry into the consultation.
Before any plan, you need to know exactly where the growth is and how far it has spread. Everything else follows from that.
The distance from the anal opening matters because it guides the type of operation and the chance of saving the sphincter muscles.
Not every rectal cancer begins with surgery. Some need radiation or medicine first, to shrink the growth before the operation.
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is surgery the first step, or is treatment needed before it? | A low or advanced growth is often treated before surgery to make removal safer. |
| Will my case be discussed with a medical and a radiation oncologist? | A joint discussion brings all views to one plan. |
| How long is the gap between treatment and the operation? | The timing affects how well the growth responds and how the operation goes. |
| What happens if the scan after treatment looks different? | The plan can change when the response is clear. |
The operation removes the rectum with the fatty tissue around it, called the mesorectum. Ask how it will be done and what it means for your bowel.
It is fair to ask about the surgeon’s training and experience. Dr Harsh Shah operates by the laparoscopic or the open method, whichever is safer for the person in front of him.
Recovery does not end at discharge. Bowel habits can change for months, and follow-up continues for years.
For the money side of the plan, read what shapes the bill for rectal cancer surgery. To think about who should operate, see who should operate on your rectal tumour.
Dr Harsh Shah sees patients at Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad. Bring your MRI, CT, scope report and biopsy report, and your list. Questions are welcome, and no question is too small.
Write the questions down, put the most pressing at the top, and bring a family member to listen and take notes.
Appointments pass quickly, and it is easy to forget half of what was said. Ask the doctor to repeat anything in simple words. If a term is unfamiliar, ask what it means for you.
After the visit, write the plan in your own words and read it back to the team. This catches misunderstandings early. If you want another view before you decide, that is a normal request, and you can read more in what to expect from rectal cancer surgery.
Start with the stage and the plan: where the growth is, how far it has spread, and whether treatment comes before or after the operation.
Often, but it depends on how far the growth is from the anal opening and how it responds to treatment. Your surgeon can tell you after reviewing the MRI.
Some people need a temporary stoma to protect the join in the bowel, and a few need a permanent one. Ask this before the operation, not after.
Yes. Asking how often the team treats rectal cancer is a fair and common question.
It helps. A second listener remembers details and can take notes while you focus on the conversation.
Dr Harsh Shah — Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Dr Jivraj Mehta Marg, Vasna, Ahmedabad 380007.
Consultations, review of reports and scans, operations and follow-up. OPD Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Appointments: +91-63555-64601 · +91-63590-11009 · Hospital 079-2663 6363
Directions to the hospital · WhatsApp +91-63555-64601
Back to the main guide: Rectal cancer surgery with Dr Harsh Shah.
Swasth Parivar: every week, 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.
