Concierge colorectal cancer · London
Colon cancer surgery, MDT-led, in London.
Oncological colectomy by a named consultant colorectal surgeon — complete mesocolic excision, a proper node harvest, and an oncology MDT decision behind every step.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named colorectal surgeon
A consultant colorectal surgeon with a cancer practice — not a general list, not a rotating trainee. The person who plans your operation is the person who does it.
- 02
A proper oncology MDT behind them
Every case is discussed by a colorectal MDT — surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and specialist nurse — before a plan is agreed with you.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What colon cancer surgery costs privately in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner colorectal units. Send the histology and imaging and we quote firm figures across two or three surgeons.
In short
A laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in our network: £18,000–£28,000, home in 3–7 days.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Hospital stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy | £18,000–£28,000 | 3–4 hr | 3–7 days |
| Robotic right hemicolectomy | £22,000–£34,000 | 3–5 hr | 3–7 days |
| Left hemicolectomy / sigmoid colectomy | £20,000–£32,000 | 3–5 hr | 4–8 days |
| Extended right hemicolectomy | £22,000–£34,000 | 4–5 hr | 5–8 days |
| Subtotal or total colectomy | £28,000–£45,000 | 4–6 hr | 7–14 days |
| Adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX / CAPOX) | £12,000–£30,000 | 3–6 months | Cycled |
Prices vary by hospital, by whether the approach is laparoscopic, robotic or open, by the length of stay, and by whether a defunctioning stoma or transfusion is needed. Adjuvant chemotherapy is quoted separately by the medical oncology team.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right MDT, the right plan — quickly.
Colon cancer outcomes turn on three things the private market can get wrong: subspecialty surgery, a proper oncology MDT, and pace. We line all three up before you commit.
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Just diagnosed — what now?
We line up staging (CT, CEA, MRI where indicated) and get you to a colorectal MDT in days, not weeks.
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Second opinion on the plan
Independent review of the histology and images by a subspecialty colorectal surgeon — before you decide.
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Keyhole or open? Stoma or no?
A named consultant explains the trade-offs for your specific tumour and its location — with the MDT recommendation behind it.
The journey
From diagnosis to surveillance — what happens, in order.
One team from staging through surgery, adjuvant therapy and five-year surveillance.
Phase 1 · Before surgery
Staging, MDT and optimisation
Phase 2 · Surgery
The oncological resection
Phase 3 · After
Recovery, chemo and surveillance
- 01
Before
Diagnosis confirmed
Colonoscopy and biopsy confirm colon cancer. We take the histology and the report and pick up from there.
- 02
Before
Staging workup
CT chest, abdomen and pelvis, CEA blood test, and MRI of the pelvis where rectal involvement is a question. Turnaround in days, not weeks.
- 03
Before
MDT decision
A colorectal MDT reviews imaging, histology and fitness. The plan — surgery first, or chemotherapy first, or both — is agreed and explained.
- 04
Before
Pre-operative optimisation
Anaesthetic review, iron infusion where needed, prehabilitation and stoma-nurse counselling if a stoma is a possibility.
- 05
Surgery
Surgery — the resection
Laparoscopic, robotic or open oncological colectomy with complete mesocolic excision, high vascular tie and a minimum 12-node harvest.
- 06
After
Enhanced recovery
Early mobilisation, early feeding and same-day removal of the urinary catheter where possible. Most patients home in three to seven days.
- 07
After
Adjuvant therapy and surveillance
Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III and high-risk stage II. Then five years of CEA, CT and colonoscopic surveillance on a defined schedule.
Typical staging to surgery: 2–4 weeks. Adjuvant chemotherapy, when indicated: 3–6 months. Surveillance: 5 years.
When it helps
When colon cancer surgery is the right step.
The routes into surgery we see most, plus the presentations that mean an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Colonoscopic biopsy-proven cancer
A malignant polyp or tumour on colonoscopy, confirmed on histology — the standard route to surgery.
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Obstructing tumour
A tumour causing bowel obstruction — sometimes needs stenting to decompress before elective resection, or urgent surgery.
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Iron-deficiency anaemia workup
A right-sided tumour picked up on colonoscopy done for unexplained anaemia — often the first sign in older patients.
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Rectal bleeding or change in habit
Persistent bleeding, looser stools or unintended weight loss investigated on the two-week rule pathway.
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Bowel screening positive result
A positive FIT test followed by colonoscopy that finds a cancer or a suspicious lesion.
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Lynch or FAP surveillance finding
A cancer picked up on surveillance colonoscopy in a patient with a known genetic predisposition.
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Synchronous liver or lung metastases
Oligometastatic disease where the primary and the metastases are both potentially resectable — a combined plan is possible.
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Red flag: obstruction or perforation
Absolute constipation, severe abdominal pain and vomiting, or peritonitis are surgical emergencies — A&E, not a clinic booking.
Procedure options
The right resection for the tumour’s location.
What each resection actually involves — and where in the colon it applies. Approach (keyhole, robotic, open) is a separate decision.
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Right hemicolectomy
For tumours of the caecum, ascending colon and hepatic flexure. Ileocolic anastomosis, usually without a stoma.
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Extended right hemicolectomy
For tumours of the transverse colon or hepatic flexure — the right colectomy is extended along the middle colic vessels.
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Left hemicolectomy
For tumours of the splenic flexure and descending colon. Colorectal anastomosis, occasionally protected by a defunctioning ileostomy.
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Sigmoid colectomy
For tumours of the sigmoid colon. Anastomosis to the upper rectum, with or without a defunctioning stoma depending on the join.
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Subtotal / total colectomy
For synchronous tumours, obstructing tumours in a loaded colon, or Lynch syndrome — most of the colon is removed.
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Laparoscopic approach
Keyhole surgery through small incisions — less pain, faster recovery, same oncological result when the surgeon is trained for it.
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Robotic approach
Robot-assisted keyhole surgery — the same oncological principles, with better ergonomics for tight anatomy.
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Open surgery
A traditional incision — reserved for very large or locally advanced tumours, dense adhesions or urgent presentations.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of colorectal surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant colorectal cancer surgeons across central London, each supported by a proper oncology MDT. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every colorectal surgeon in our network.
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Consultant colorectal surgeons with a subspecialty cancer practice, not general surgical lists
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Every case discussed at a colorectal MDT before surgery is offered
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Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway with stoma-nurse and prehabilitation input
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Direct medical oncology onward referral for adjuvant chemotherapy where indicated
Safety and recovery
The complications worth knowing about — honestly.
Modern colon cancer surgery is safe and well tolerated, but it is major abdominal surgery followed by systemic therapy. These are the risks to plan for and the red flags to act on.
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Anastomotic leak
The join can leak in three to eight per cent of cases. Presents day three to seven with pain, fever and tachycardia — needs urgent CT, antibiotics and often a return to theatre.
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Ileus and slow bowel
The bowel is often sluggish for a few days after surgery. Nausea and abdominal distension are normal early on, but persistent vomiting is not.
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Wound and chest infection
Wound infection in five to ten per cent, chest infection in a smaller number — reduced by early mobilisation, breathing exercises and modern anaesthetic technique.
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Venous thromboembolism
DVT and pulmonary embolism risk is real for weeks after cancer surgery. Prophylactic dalteparin continues for 28 days after discharge.
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Incisional hernia
A weakness at the incision site develops in up to fifteen per cent long-term — smaller with keyhole surgery than with open.
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Defunctioning stoma
A temporary loop ileostomy is sometimes used to protect a low join. Reversal is usually planned around three months later, once healing is confirmed.
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Chemotherapy toxicity
FOLFOX and CAPOX cause fatigue, nausea, neuropathy and neutropenia. Neutropenic sepsis is a medical emergency — call the oncology hotline the same day.
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Recurrence and surveillance
Most recurrences happen in the first two years. CEA, CT and colonoscopy on a defined schedule pick them up while they are still treatable.
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Red flags after discharge
Fever, breathlessness, calf pain, worsening abdominal pain, no wind or stool for 48 hours, or heavy rectal bleeding — call the team or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation and histology notes
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever resection was done, the note the surgeon sends you — and the histology report a fortnight later — keep to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical and histology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the pTNM stage and the MDT recommendation before your oncology appointment, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and operation performed
The tumour location, the operation done, the anaesthetic and the surgeon — the top of every operation note.
- 02 Technique
Approach, vascular tie and mesocolic excision
Laparoscopic, robotic or open; where the vessels were divided; whether a complete mesocolic excision was achieved.
- 03 Findings
Tumour findings and node harvest
What was seen at operation, the specimen removed, the number of lymph nodes retrieved and any liver or peritoneal findings.
- 04 Impression
Histology, stage and next step
Read this last: the pTNM stage, the margin status (R0 preferred), and whether adjuvant chemotherapy is being recommended.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for colon cancer surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy is standard on comprehensive policies — subject to authorisation and any hospital-network restrictions. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything patients ask us about colon cancer surgery.
Quick answers on approach, stoma decisions, chemotherapy, recovery and long-term surveillance.
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What is oncological colon cancer surgery?
It is a colectomy planned to remove the tumour with an intact envelope of mesocolon, a high tie of the feeding vessels, and at least 12 lymph nodes for staging — with clear (R0) margins on histology. It is not simply cutting out the piece of bowel with the cancer in it.
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Laparoscopic, robotic or open — which is better?
For most colon cancers the oncological outcome is the same. Keyhole surgery — laparoscopic or robotic — gives less pain, faster recovery and fewer wound problems. Open is chosen for very large or locally advanced tumours, dense adhesions, or emergencies.
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Will I need a stoma?
Most right and sigmoid resections do not need one. A temporary loop ileostomy is sometimes used to protect a low join — typically reversed around three months later. A permanent stoma is uncommon in colon (rather than rectal) cancer.
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How long does recovery take?
On an enhanced recovery pathway most patients are home in three to seven days and back to light work in four to six weeks. Full recovery — including from adjuvant chemotherapy if given — is closer to six months.
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Do I need chemotherapy?
Stage I disease does not. Stage III (node-positive) disease is offered adjuvant FOLFOX or CAPOX. Stage II is discussed case by case — offered when there are high-risk features such as T4 disease, vascular invasion or fewer than 12 nodes examined.
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What if the cancer has spread to the liver or lung?
Oligometastatic disease is often still curable. The MDT plans surgery to the primary and the metastases — sometimes in the same operation, sometimes staged — with chemotherapy around it. It is not automatically incurable.
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What is the survival with modern surgery?
Five-year survival is around 90 per cent for stage I, 70–80 per cent for stage II, 50–70 per cent for stage III with adjuvant chemotherapy, and 10–20 per cent for stage IV — better when metastases are resectable. Individual figures depend on the histology.
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How long will I be in hospital?
Three to seven days for most laparoscopic and robotic resections. Longer for subtotal colectomy, for open surgery, or if complications develop. ERAS pathways aim for the shorter end of that range.
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When can I drive, work and exercise?
Driving usually two to three weeks once you can perform an emergency stop without hesitation. Office work at four weeks; heavy lifting and running closer to eight. Chemotherapy, if given, slows all of these.
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What follow-up will I have?
Five years of surveillance — CEA every three to six months, CT chest-abdomen-pelvis annually for the first three years, and colonoscopy at one year then every three to five years. The schedule is set by NICE and adjusted by your team.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Colectomy
Colonic resection for benign and other indications.
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Colon polypectomy
Removal of colonic polyps at colonoscopy.
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Colonoscopy
Diagnostic and surveillance endoscopy of the colon.
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All tests and procedures
Every test and treatment we arrange.
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Acid Reflux
Related condition guide.
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Crohns Disease
Related condition guide.
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Gastroscopy
Related diagnostic test.
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In practice, in London
Where colon cancer surgery sits in a private London pathway
For colon cancer surgery, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. Public provision for colon cancer surgery is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
A private colon cancer surgery pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. The consultants we work with hold NHS posts alongside their private lists, which keeps the standards consistent across both settings. For colon cancer surgery in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.
The value of going through a concierge for colon cancer surgery isn’t access — anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.