March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But, screening can and does save lives. About 90% of people live five or more years when their colorectal cancer is found early through testing.
adenomatous polyps should be screened more often. A colonoscopy remains the best test to detect colorectal cancers before they start causing symptoms. The test also allows for the immediate removal of polyps or other abnormal tissues before they have a chance to morph into deadly cancers. “Prep is the most important part of the colonoscopy,” Dr. Suryawala says. “The cleaner the colon, the better the exam.” Colonoscopy preparations are available in different volumes and are very effective in cleansing the colon. The choice of preparation is usually selected based on the individual’s medical history and preference. For individuals for whom the colonoscopy is not an option for whatever reason, a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) may be ordered instead of colonoscopy. However, these tests are not nearly as accurate as the “eyes-on” examination that colonoscopy allows. Although the causes of colon cancer are still unknown, risk may be reduced by eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, being physically active, maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) and avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol intake. It is important to note that these measures do not replace screening.
Dr. Kunal Suryawala
“It is one of the preventable cancers,” says Kunal Suryawala, MD, one of five physicians with NCH Physician Group’s Gastroenterology department. “We can screen for it, and the tests really help reduce the incidence and mortality rates from colorectal cancer. We can save more than half of the people who get it by finding it early through screening.” In early stages, colorectal cancer does not have any symptoms. That is one reason why 1 in 3 adults between 50 and 75 do not get tested as recommended. Most guidelines recommend screening starting at the age of 50 years old in average risk individuals, and every ten years thereafter if no issues are found. However, the new recommendation from the American Cancer Society has decreased the recommended age for first screening to 45 for average-risk individuals. Patients with a personal or family history of colon cancer or
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control Prevention
For more information, or to make an appointment for colorectal cancer screening, call the NCH Physician Group Gastroenterology offices at (239) 624-8070. The office is located 1285 Creekside Blvd. East, Suite 102, in Naples.
surgical suites and other NCH facilities. NCH lab utilizes state of the art laboratory equipment including an Automation line to achieve improved quality and rapid results. They are proud of their TAT (Turnaround Time) for ED STAT Creatinine—averaging 20 minutes from receiving the specimen in lab to reporting results. The lab also performs cardiac enzyme testing and coagulation testing for patients on Coumadin or Heparin therapy. They identify abnormal cells that can cause leukemia and other blood diseases in the Hematology lab. In the Pathology/Histology lab, they process surgical specimens (biopsies, resections, fluids) to rule out, diagnose, and stage cancer and other abnormalities. In the robust Blood Bank/Transfusion Services lab they perform blood typing and cross match testing, and provide all blood products for SAFE transfusion for Emergency Department, Oncology, Infusion, Pediatric and Newborn, Cardiac, General Surgery and hospital inpatient populations. Microbiology Medical Technologists diagnose infections and perform antibiotic sensitivity testing to let the doctor know best treatment for the patient’s infection. The lab also performs molecular PCR testing for rapid diagnosis of infections in less than an hour—the right diagnosis, in the right time, right NOW! Batya Levy, NCH Laboratory System Director and Medical Technologist certified by the American Medical Technologists, oversees the daily operations of the lab. Batya and her team work hard to achieve timely, accurate results and make the experience for patients as pleasant as possible.
TheNCHLabHas aCritical Mission L-R: Ryann Lilli, Medical Technologist, Batya Levy, Laboratory System Director, Marlene Clark, Laboratory Manager, Janet Magee, Medical Technologist, set-up the Lab at the new NCH Healthcare Bonita facility.
“Without the lab, you’reonlyguessing,” isaproud reminder of the importance of NCH’s 180 clinical lab colleagues including medical and histology technologists, lab assistants/phlebotomists, and eight pathologists (physicians). NCH’s lab mission-critical colleagues last year: • Drew 170,924 lab specimens on hospital inpatients and more than 50,000 lab specimens on outpatients at various NCH • Transfused 14,796 blood products, which included 10,291 Packed RBCs (separated red blood cells) • Set up and worked up 82,558 various cultures—blood, tissue, urine, throat, wound, stool, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid Physician Group locations. • Performed 2,044,239 tests
analysis), AFB (acid-fast bacilli) in addition to completing 5,417 Antigen testing for Rapid Diagnostics. • Performed 9,703 PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) molecular tests for rapid diagnosis of infections and reported 16,000 automated bacterial identifications • Evaluated and analyzed specimens for 16,781 surgical and endoscopy cases An estimated 70% of medical decisions regarding a patient diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory results. Our NCHHospital Laboratory System accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), operates 24/7, reporting normal and abnormal results for patients from the Emergency Department, hospital floors,
You can visit www.nchmd.org/services/all-services/laboratory for more information about NCH Lab services.
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