Colorectal Cancer - The facts can save lives.
Colon Cancer from Prevention to Treatment: A Live Discussion on
the Web at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
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.
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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