Digestive Care

What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer Screening

According to the American Cancer Society* colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S., and the third leading cause of cancer death in men and women. What many people don’t know is that it’s largely preventable. You can significantly reduce your risk with regular screenings, by watching your weight and being physically active.

Regular screening is the best way to find colon cancer early. Some screening tests may even be able to prevent colon cancer entirely by finding certain types of polyps in the colon that could become cancerous.

But When Should You Start?

People who have no identified risk factors other than age — should begin testing for colon cancer at age 50. If you have a family history of this cancer or have other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, you should talk with your doctor about starting earlier.

There are several different tests that can find colon cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk use one of the screening tests below:

• Tests that find polyps & cancer:
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years**
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Tests that mainly find cancer:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year**,***
• Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain*

Ask your doctor which option is best for you.

Colon Cancer Signs & Symptoms

If you notice a change in bowel habits, dark stools, rectal bleeding, cramping/abdominal pain or persistent weakness and fatigue, see your doctor right away. Most of these symptoms are likely to be caused by conditions other than colon cancer, but they could also be signs of colon cancer, so you should get checked out immediately. Don’t wait, you have a much better chance of fighting colon cancer if it’s found early.

*Source: www.americancancersociety.com, revised 2/25/10.

**Colonoscopy should be done if test results are positive.

***For FOBT or FIT used as a screening test, the take-home multiple sample method should be used. An FOBT or FIT done during a digital rectal exam in the doctor’s office is not adequate for screening.

Beat the Burn!

GERD Treatment Options at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco

Chronic heartburn may be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, a condition in which stomach contents leak backward into the esophagus. It is generally treated by lifestyle changes and medication. Surgery is an option if other treatments don’t control your symptoms.   Normally, after swallowing, a valve between the esophagus and the stomach opens to allow food to pass, then it closes to prevent stomach contents from “refluxing” back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest. For people who suffer from GERD, the valve is dysfunctional and unable to prevent acid from refluxing into the esophagus.

Do You Have GERD?

If you have heartburn or reflux twice a week or more, you may have GERD. Heartburn is the most common symptom, but you may also experience:

• Hoarseness or sore throat
• Frequent swallowing
• Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
• Pain or discomfort in the chest
• Sleep disruption
• Bloating
• Excessive clearing of the throat
• Persistent cough
• Burning in the mouth or throat
• Intolerance of certain foods
• Dental erosions or therapy-resistant gum disease or inflammation

Diet & Lifestyle Changes

You may be able to prevent heartburn by avoiding the foods and beverages that seem to trigger your symptoms. For some people, these include carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus, tomatoes, and spicy or fatty foods.

Symptom Relief through Medication

You can try over-the-counter antacids, although they may not control your symptoms for very long. Other over-the-counter and prescription drugs also can treat GERD.

When to Consider Surgery

If changing your lifestyle and taking medication doesn’t work, anti-reflux surgery may be an option for you to consider. Heartburn, regurgitation and other symptoms typically get much better after surgery, but you may still need medication to control heartburn.

Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver that stores and concentrates bile to help digest fat. Gallbladder disease includes inflammation, infection, or blockage (obstruction) of the gallbladder. The most common blockage is a gallstone. Gallstones are pebble-like and solid. They can be as large as a golf ball or as small as a grain of sand.

Gallbladder disease is very common, affecting about 10-15 percent of adults in Europe and the United States. It is more common in women, Native Americans, Hispanics, the obese, and people over age 40. Symptoms of gallbladder disease may include pain in the upper right side or middle of the abdomen, abdominal fullness, clay-colored stool, fever, nausea, and vomiting, or yellowing of skin and whites of eyes (jaundice).

Treatment Options

Treatment for gallbladder disease may include lifestyle changes, medicines, and procedures. However, when routine medical care does not ease your symptoms, surgery may be needed. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, doctors may need to remove your gallbladder. This operation is known as a cholecystectomy.

Gallbladder surgery is generally performed using manual laparoscopy. This technique uses several small incisions to access the gallbladder. The approach is intended to speed recovery, minimize pain, reduce blood loss and complications while offering the added benefit of minimal scarring. Many surgeons also perform laparoscopic surgery through one incision to virtually eliminate scarring.

Single-Site da Vinci Surgery: A Virtually Scarless Procedure

If you have been told you need gallbladder surgery, ask your doctor about Single-Site da Vinci surgery. This procedure is performed through a single incision using precision instruments. Patients who choose Single-Site da Vinci surgery may experience a virtually scarless procedure since surgery is performed through only one incision in the navel (belly button), which dramatically limits visible scarring.

Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this technology allows for a single incision in the belly button where instruments are placed and the diseased gallbladder is removed.

The primary potential benefits of Single-Site da Vinci surgery may include minimal scarring, minimal pain, low blood loss, fast recovery, and a shorter hospital stay.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed since surgery is unique to each patient and procedure.

da Vinci Surgical System with Single-Site Technology

The da Vinci Surgical System is designed to overcome the limitations of manual laparoscopy with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3-D vision and a magnified view. Your doctor controls the da Vinci System, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body.

Though it is often called a robot, da Vinci cannot act on its own – the surgery is performed entirely by your doctor. Together, the da Vinci system and Single-Site instruments allow your doctor to perform gallbladder surgery through a single incision. As a result, you may be able to get back to your life without the recovery or scars that usually follow major surgery.

All surgeries, including da Vinci surgery, involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your situation.