Colorectal Surgery News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

Physicians representing five specialties to discuss options, take patient questions in a live setting.

People who log on to the Web on Wednesday, June 9, at 4:30 p.m. will be able to watch, from the comfort of their home or office, a first for the Philadelphia area. Physicians, representing five specialties at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, will discuss colon cancer—the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

“Screening for colon cancer enables us to find and remove polyps at an early stage,” explains Richard Wender, M.D., chair, Department of Family Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, who will serve as Webcast moderator. “Finding polyps early is important because polyps can become cancerous if they are not removed.”

A panel of physicians from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital--representing the specialties that deal with colon and rectal cancer screening and treatment--will participate in the Webcast discussion. In addition, they will answer questions asked by the live audience and sent in by the e-mail audience. Patients who have undergone various colorectal screenings will also discuss their experiences.

“Colorectal cancer has a high cure rate when caught early,” says Anthony J. DiMarino Jr., M.D., director, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. “This is a disease that could be practically eliminated if everyone over age 50, or with a strong family history, was screened.

“There are numerous screening tools that help us to identify problems,” Dr. DiMarino, who is also William Rorer Professor of Medicine and Director, division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Jefferson Medical College, said. “They include the gold standard--the colonoscopy--as well as the flexible sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which are often used together. In addition, patients at Jefferson who are unable to undergo a traditional colonoscopy may be eligible for the newer, virtual colonoscopy.”

Among the topics scheduled for discussion are:

The Genetic Component: According to Bruce Boman, M.D., Ph.D., one in approximately every 400 people has a genetic mutation that predisposes them to develop colorectal cancer. The key is to identify these individuals before they develop cancer in order to prevent cancer from occurring.

“It often begins with a patient who is diagnosed with colorectal cancer,” Dr. Boman, director, Division of Genetic and Preventive Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, says. “If the patient has one of two factors—a family history of colorectal cancer or is younger than age 60 when diagnosed with colorectal cancer—it is recommended that the patient go for genetic counseling.

“Once we identify someone with a genetic mutation for colorectal cancer risk, we can then screen the rest of their family to see if they carry the mutation. Once we confirm the mutation, we can institute measures such as aggressive screening with colonoscopy to remove pre-malignant polyps before they develop into cancer—an approach that will save many lives,” says Dr. Boman, who is also professor of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Traditional and Virtual Colonoscopy: Anthony Infantolino, M.D., director, Endoscopic Ultrasound and Photodynamic Therapy, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and clinical professor of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College, will demonstrate the traditional colonoscopy and discuss which patients may not be candidates for this screening tool. Anna Lev-Toaff, M.D., Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and professor of Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, will demonstrate the new virtual colonoscopy.

Colorectal Surgery:“Although this is the stage no one wants to get to,” says Scott Goldstein, M.D., director, Division of Colorectal Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, “the surgeons at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital offer surgical options resulting in excellent cure rates while preserving normal gastrointestinal function.” Dr. Goldstein also points out that if all Americans were screened for colorectal cancers, it would no longer be the killer disease we know. Dr. Goldstein is assistant professor of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

A limited number of seats are available to the public to be audience members during the panel discussion and live Webcast. Reservations are required. For reservations and information, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

The Webcast: Colorectal Cancer—The Facts Can Save Lives is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 credit. Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, as a member of the Consortium for Academic Continuing Medical Education, is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Webcast can be viewed at www.jeffersonhospital.org/webcast.

For more information on colorectal screening, prevention and treatment, as well as genetic counseling, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.