Grundy County Memorial Hospital | Live Well | Fall 2018

Specialty Clinic F cus on GCMH Specialty Services >> 5 A rise in rates of colorec- tal cancer among young and middle-aged adults has spurred the Ameri- can Cancer Society (ACS) to change its guidelines for when people should start screening for the disease. The gold stan- dard for screening, the colonoscopy exam, can find and remove suspicious growths before they have a chance to become cancer. The ACS now recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer begin screening at age 45, five years earlier than the previous recom- mendation of 50. People who are at increased risk for the cancer may want to start colorectal cancer screening before age 45 or be screened more often. Why did it change? A study led by the ACS and published earlier this year found that, overall, rates of new colorectal cancer cases in the U.S. have been dropping since the mid-1980s. The decline has been even steeper during the past decade—for which the ACS credits screening tests. However, the decline in rates of newly diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer has been led by older adults. Incidence rates have actually been rising for adults younger than 50. In addition, the ACS study found that people younger than 55 are more likely than older people to be diagnosed with late-stage colorectal can- cer. The study’s authors theorized that younger people are delaying diag- nosis because they don’t recognize symptoms of the disease. According to the ACS, the most common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include: ●   ● A change in bowel habits—such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool—that lasts for more than a few days. ●   ● A feeling like you need to have a bowel movement that isn’t relieved when you do have one. ●   ● Rectal bleeding. ●   ● Dark stools or blood in the stool. ●   ● Cramping or abdominal pain. ●   ● Weakness and fatigue. ●   ● Weight loss for no known reason. Check with your provider Your primary care provider is your best source for guidance on when you should begin screening, so consult with him or her about the lower age recommenda- tion. The new guidelines from the ACS stress the importance of regular screen- ing, however the ACS recommendation doesn’t yet have the endorsement of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Many insurance companies offer coverage based on the Task Force’s recommendations, so check with your insurance company in advance of any scheduled screening. Visiting Specialists Audiology Seema Arab, AuD Cardiology and Echocardiogram Kalyana Sundaram, MD Kari Haislet, DNP Abbie Schrader, ARNP Dermatology Angela Buttjer, PA-C Ear Nose & Throat/Skin Cancer David J. Congdon, MD, MPH, FACS Tricia Thompson, ARNP Gastroenterology/Hepatology Srinivas Kalala, MD Tracy Elliott, ARNP General Surgery/Colonoscopy Paul Burgett, MD, FACS Nephrology T. Michel Daoud, MD Vinay K. Kantamneni, MD Oncology Wael Ghalayini, MD Ophthalmology Benjamin Mason, MD Theresa Larson, MD Orthopedics Robert B. Bartelt, MD Podiatry Stephen Solomon, DPM Psychiatric Social Work & NP Debra Estes, LISW Kelsie Swisher, ARNP GCMH Services Anti-Coagulation Ariel Loring, PharmD GCMH Orthopedics Douglas Cooper, MD Pain Management J. Craig Vana, MSN, CRNA, ARNP Sleep Disorders GCMH Sleep Service Wound Healing Amanda Vervaecke, ARNP CALL 319-824-5081 or 888-824-5081 Age 45 is new guideline for colorectal cancer screening SCHEDULE NOW! Grundy County Memorial Hospital offers colorectal cancer screening. Two board-certified physicians are available for colonoscopy screening. Call 319-824-5081 for scheduling information. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the united states. —American Cancer Society

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