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Colon cancer, rectal cancer, polyps that cannot be removed through the colonoscope, rectal prolapse: Dr Harsh Shah sees these at his Gota OPD and operates at Apollo Hospital, Bhat. He explains what the reports mean, whether an operation is needed, and which one.
Colon cancer, rectal cancer, polyps that cannot be removed through the colonoscope, rectal prolapse: Dr Harsh Shah sees these at his Gota OPD and operates at Apollo Hospital, Bhat. He explains what the reports mean, whether an operation is needed, and which one.
SF-203, 2nd Floor, Olive Greens, Gota, S G Highway, Ahmedabad 382481
Dr Harsh Shah is a surgical gastroenterologist (MCh) in Ahmedabad who operates on the colon and rectum. He treats colon cancer, rectal cancer and bowel conditions that need an operation, such as rectal prolapse. He sees patients at his Gota OPD and operates at Apollo Hospital, Bhat.
Not every bowel problem needs an operation. Dr Shah tells you plainly when one is needed and when it is not.
Dr Harsh Shah, MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology), is a Colorectal & GI Cancer Surgeon · Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar · Gota OPD, Ahmedabad.
Shah's Gastro, Cancer & Robotic Surgery Centre, SF-203, 2nd Floor, Olive Greens, Gota, S G Highway, Ahmedabad 382481. Call to book a time.
Have your colonoscopy, biopsy or scan reports ready when you call. Dr Harsh Shah reads them with you at the consultation.
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Dr Harsh Shah is a surgical gastroenterologist in Ahmedabad. He sees every patient himself at the Gota OPD and operates at Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar. His colorectal work covers colon and rectal cancer, polyps and inherited polyp conditions, and bowel problems that need an operation, such as rectal prolapse and stoma closure. Cancer treatment is planned with the medical and radiation oncologists, so surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy come in the right order.
A colorectal surgeon operates on the large bowel: the colon, the rectum and the anal canal. The commonest reason to need one is cancer of the colon or rectum. Some non-cancer conditions also need an operation.
This is the main part of Dr Harsh Shah's colorectal work. The operation removes the part of the bowel that carries the cancer, together with the lymph nodes that drain it, and joins the bowel again wherever that is safe. Depending on the patient and the tumour, it is done as open, laparoscopic (keyhole) or robotic surgery. Rectal cancer often needs radiotherapy or chemotherapy before the operation; that plan is made with the medical and radiation oncologists before surgery is fixed.
The colon lies free in the abdomen, so for most colon cancers the operation comes first. The final biopsy report then decides whether chemotherapy is needed afterwards.
The rectum sits deep in the pelvis, close to the bladder, the reproductive organs and the anal muscle. An MRI of the pelvis shows how far the cancer has grown and how close it is to these structures. Many rectal cancers are treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or both before the operation, to shrink the tumour and make the operation safer. The height of the tumour from the anal opening decides whether the anal muscle can be kept and whether a stoma is needed.
A stoma is an opening of the bowel on the tummy, with a bag to collect stool. After rectal cancer surgery it is often temporary: it rests the new join while it heals and is closed with a smaller operation later. Before you go home, the team shows you and your family how to change the bag, what to eat and when to call.
Dr Shah also operates on bowel problems that are not cancer when medicines are not enough:
Piles (haemorrhoids) and fistula-in-ano are not treated at this practice. An anal fissure is treated with medicines and diet advice at the Gota OPD, without an operation.
A gastroenterologist diagnoses bowel problems and treats them with medicines and colonoscopy. A colorectal surgeon operates when the problem needs an operation, most often a cancer of the colon or rectum.
| Gastroenterologist | Colorectal surgeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Super-speciality degree | DM (Gastroenterology) | MCh or DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology), or a surgical oncology or colorectal training |
| Main tools | Medicines, colonoscopy, biopsy, polyp removal through the colonoscope | Operations: open, laparoscopic or robotic |
| Usually seen first when | Blood in the stool, change in bowel habit, pain, or a screening colonoscopy | A colonoscopy or scan has found a growth, or an operation has been advised |
In India, colorectal operations are done by surgical gastroenterologists, surgical oncologists and surgeons with colorectal training. Dr Harsh Shah is a surgical gastroenterologist; his training covers the whole digestive tract, and the colon and rectum are a large part of his operating work.
If you need a colonoscopy, Dr Shah refers you for it and goes through the report with you at your next visit. For digestive problems that are not about the bowel, see the surgical gastroenterologist in Ahmedabad page.
If you have blood in the stool or a change in bowel habit and no report yet, you can still come to the Gota OPD. Dr Shah will examine you and arrange the right test.
Blood in the stool has many causes. Most are not cancer, but the cause should be found, not guessed. See a doctor without delay if the bleeding keeps coming back, is mixed with the stool, or comes with weight loss, tiredness or a change in bowel habit.
Bright red blood on the paper after a hard stool is often from a small tear or swollen veins near the anal opening. Darker blood, blood mixed into the stool, or bleeding with loose motions, constipation that is new for you, a feeling that the bowel has not emptied, or a low blood count needs a proper check. The usual first test is a colonoscopy, which lets the doctor see the whole large bowel and take a biopsy from anything abnormal.
You can come to the Gota OPD with these symptoms even if you have no report yet. Dr Shah examines you, explains what the likely causes are, and arranges the right test. If the colonoscopy finds a growth, the plan for surgery is made with you from that point. If the cause is piles or a fistula, you are referred to a colleague who treats them; an anal fissure is treated here with medicines and diet advice.
Do not wait for pain. Colon and rectal cancers often cause no pain in the early stage, and bleeding or a change in habit may be the only sign.
The cost of a colorectal operation depends on the operation, the approach (open, laparoscopic or robotic), whether a stoma is made, the room type and the length of stay. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are planned and billed separately. You get a written estimate after the consultation, once the plan is clear.
If you have health insurance, call us and we will explain how cashless admission and pre-authorisation work for your policy at Apollo Hospital, Bhat. Bring your policy card, photo ID and all reports at admission.
Bring every colonoscopy, biopsy, CT, MRI and blood report you have, and the slides or blocks if a biopsy was done elsewhere. The treatment decision is made at the consultation, after Dr Shah has examined you.
Often a son, daughter or spouse is the one searching. You are welcome in the consultation. Write your questions down: will a stoma be needed, and is it temporary; how long is the hospital stay; when can normal food start; is chemotherapy needed after the operation. Dr Shah answers these for your patient's own case.
Operations are done at Apollo Hospital, Bhat, on the Gandhinagar side of the city. The OPD is at Gota on S G Highway, close to the Gandhinagar road. If you are travelling from another town or state, call before you set out so a time is kept for you, and bring all your reports, scans and a list of your medicines.
Dr Harsh Shah is a surgical gastroenterologist, MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology). Operations on the colon and rectum, especially for colon and rectal cancer, are a large part of his work. He operates at Apollo Hospital, Bhat and sees patients at his Gota OPD in Ahmedabad.
If you have symptoms but no diagnosis, a gastroenterologist or a surgical gastroenterologist can examine you and arrange a colonoscopy. If a colonoscopy, biopsy or scan has already found a growth, or an operation has been advised, see a colorectal surgeon first.
Most colon cancer operations do not need a permanent stoma. For rectal cancer, a temporary stoma is sometimes made to protect the join while it heals, and is closed later. A permanent stoma is needed only when the cancer is too close to the anal muscle to keep it. Dr Shah explains which applies to you after the scans.
Colon and rectal operations can be done open, laparoscopically or robotically. The approach is chosen for each patient, based on the tumour, earlier operations and general health.
Piles and fistula-in-ano are not treated at this practice. Anal fissure is treated with medicines and diet advice at the Gota OPD, without an operation.
The consultation is at the Gota OPD, SF-203, 2nd Floor, Olive Greens, Gota, S G Highway, Ahmedabad 382481. Operations are done at Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar. Call +91 63555 64601 to book a time.
Book a time at the Gota OPD. A family member is welcome to come with you.
Consultation at Gota. Surgery at Apollo Hospital, Bhat, Gandhinagar.
Last updated: 2 October 2026
For colon, rectal or bowel problems, meet Dr Harsh Shah at the Gota OPD. Call before you come so a time is kept for you.
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