Colorectal Cancer - The facts can save lives.
About the Topic:
About colorectal cancer - its detection and early
treatment
Today, we know enough about diagnosing cancers and precancers
in the colon and rectum - and doing something about them early.
The real challenge is to get this information to practicing physicians
and their patients, so that the knowledge will save more lives.
Specifically, we know which patient groups are likely to benefit
from screening the most. In addition, we can prevent colorectal
cancers by detecting and treating the precursors of cancer in a
minimally invasive way.
Affecting men and women equally, colorectal cancer is one of the
most common internal cancers. But who is at highest risk? And who
needs what screening and on what schedule? Colonoscopy? Sigmoidoscopy?
Other tests? How often and starting at what age? This conversation
is important for doctors and patients, because many patients who
need screening have never had it. And with improved studies and
techniques, the answers to these questions about screening have
changed over recent years.
Our team of physicians will describe the most up-to-date recommendations,
used at leading cancer centers such as Jefferson. These practices
can guide both the doctor and the public.
It's not just age but also family, medical, and life-style history
that determines the right regimen of testing for each person. And
now, new findings in genetics are improving our precision in outlining
a testing approach that is individualized. Anyone over 50, or with
personal or family history that places him or her in a higher-risk
category, should start on a regular schedule of screening.
In our webcast, accomplished clinicians at Jefferson Hospital will
review and illustrate the latest standards of care for combating
colorectal cancer. They will explain the formal, established guidelines
now assigned to screening.
Although the tendency toward colorectal cancer can be inherited,
most cases occur in patients without any of the currently established
risk factors. For this reason, our panelists will discuss why age
guidelines remain critical.
Doctors should be active advocates of prevention for their patients,
and every individual should be knowledgeable enough to ask questions
about this kind of testing with his or her doctor. Our specialists
will prepare both doctors and patients, by presenting the current
recommendations for each of the available tests and interventions.
In the discussion, our team of experts will illustrate procedures
and include patient and physician interviews. Participants will
learn more about what it means to undergo a colonoscopy, including
for removal of polyps. In addition, viewers will see the new "virtual
colonoscopy." The virtual-colonoscopy procedure uses spiral
CT scanning to create a three-dimensional image of the colon.
Awareness, screening, and preventive treatment for colorectal cancer
combine to create an important area of public health. Join us to
learn the latest standards of care from cancer-center doctors involved
in leading-edge developments in the field. Our team will provide
useful guidance to specialists, primary-care physicians, patients,
and the public.
If you are a physician and would like to refer a patient, call
215-955-0215.
If you are a patient and would like to make an appointment or would
like more information, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.
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