Colon and rectal surgery deals with the intestinal tract, the colon, rectum and anal canal. A colon and rectal surgeon diagnoses and treats various diseases of these areas of the body by medical and surgical means. This specialist may deal with other organs and tissues that are affected by intestinal disease, such as the liver, urinary, and female reproductive system.

A colon and rectal surgeon can also diagnose and manage conditions such as hemorrhoids, abscesses and fistulae (infections located around the anus and rectum), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory conditions. They also use technical procedures to evaluate and treat cancer, polyps, and other anorectal diseases.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 63 practicing colon & rectal surgeons. Broken out by city, colon & rectal surgery doctor density in Arlington Heights is 1, in Barrington is 1, in Bensenville is 1, in Berwyn is 3, in Bloomington is 3, in Burr Ridge is 1, in Champaign is 2, in Chicago is 18, in Chicago Heights is 1, in Danville is 2, in Deerfield is 1, in Elk Grove Village is 1, in Evergreen Park is 1, in Flora is 1, in Flossmoor is 1, in Glenview is 2, in Hazel Crest is 1, in Hinsdale is 3, in Hoffman Estates is 1, in Joliet is 1, in Justice is 1, in Kankakee is 1, in Lake Forest is 1, in Lincoln is 1, in Mahomet is 1, in Mattoon is 2, in Maywood is 4, in Mchenry is 1, in Melrose Park is 2, in Moline is 1, in Monticello is 1, in Morris is 1, in Naperville is 2, in Niles is 2, in Oak Lawn is 1, in Oakbrook Terrace is 1, in Olympia Fields is 2, in Orland Park is 1, in Ottawa is 1, in Park Ridge is 4, in Pekin is 1, in Peoria is 3, in Peru is 1, in Riverside is 1, in Rock Island is 1, in Rockford is 2, in Salem is 1, in Schaumburg is 1, in Skokie is 2, in Springfield is 7, in Streamwood is 1, in Tuscola is 1, in Urbana is 4, in Wheaton is 1, and in Woodstock is 1.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.