Conquering Colon Cancer - Renown Health

Renown institute foR canceR
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cover story WRITTEN by DoN Cox
Conquering
colon cancer
Prevention is key; treatment is top-notch at renown
B
Ill mandeRs wouldn’t Budge when
a doCtoR at Renown RegIonal
medICal CenteR suggested he get a
ColonosCopy.
“no, I won’t do that,” manders told his doctor. “my
doctor said I was bleeding internally. she said I needed to
get a colonoscopy. anything with an ‘oscopy’ I didn’t want
to do.”
manders, 57, a well-known northern nevada radio
personality, was being stubborn. But so was his doctor.
“she didn’t give me an option,” he said. finally, manders
did as he was told and got the colonoscopy. It’s a good
thing that manders’ doctor was persistent. the colonoscopy
revealed a cancerous polyp.
manders had the polyp removed at Renown. he’s back
on the air from 3 to 6 p.m. monday through friday, living
proof that early detection saves lives.
the importance of screenings
for colorectal cancer, early detection is key.
“It’s very preventable,” said victor Chen, md, a
gastroenterologist with gastroenterology Consultants in
Reno. “It’s easily treatable by removing the polyps. ninety
percent are treatable if they’re diagnosed with screening.”
Initial screening is recommended by age 50 for patients
without a history of colorectal cancer. screening should
occur sooner if there is a family history.
“people should undergo a colonoscopy 10 years prior to
when their relatives were diagnosed,” said mary schultheis,
md, a colorectal surgeon with general & vascular
associates in Reno. for example, if your father was
diagnosed at 55, you should be screened starting at age 45.
“there are different screening tests that can be done,” dr.
schultheis said. “a colonoscopy is the best. the entire
length of the colon can be examined. polyps can be
removed and biopsies can be done.”
polyps are abnormal growths rising from the lining of the
large intestine (colon) and protruding into the intestinal
canal. some polyps are flat and others have a stalk.
most colonoscopies take between 30 and 60 minutes,
including polyp removal, with no need to stay in the
hospital. the majority of polyps can be removed during
Renown joURneY
the exam. however, large polyps may require more than
one treatment for complete removal. some polyps can’t be
removed by instruments because of their size or position
and surgery may be required.
symptoms of colon cancer can include rectal bleeding,
abdominal pain or anemia. early screening can result in
polyps being removed before they become cancerous.
polyps go through a very predictable cycle of going from
non-cancerous to cancerous,” dr. schultheis said. “Colon
cancer has a very high cure rate if detected early.”
But nevada is one of the worst states in the nation for
colorectal cancer screening. In 2004, only 36.7 percent of
state residents age 50 or older underwent a colonoscopy,
compared to 45.1 percent compliance nationally.
“It’s one of the lowest in the nation,” dr. Chen said of
nevada’s screening percentage.
last year in nevada there were 1,120 reported new cases
of colorectal cancer.
“It’s all preventable,” said Christos galanopoulos, md,
a specialist in cancer surgery with general & vascular
associates. “It all hovers around that polyp. If we can catch
that, we can prevent cancer.”
“it’s very preventable. ninety
percent are treatable if they’re
diagnosed with screening.”
Victor Chen, MD
a team of specialists
screening and treatment. that’s what the Renown Institute
for Cancer is all about.
“It’s rare to find a facility with a five to 10 year plan,”
said dr. galanopoulos, who specializes in gastrointestinal
surgical oncology. “Renown has put a lot of equipment and
people in place. they are looking at the big picture.”
dr. galanopoulos is one of those people. Because of his
specialty, he was recruited by general & vascular associates
Continued on page 6
“i was very fortunate. it was nice
to know we have incredible
doctors locally.”
Audrey Smith, colon cancer survivor
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