Why Gamble With
Colorectal Cancer?
Free community seminar on the prevention,
detection and treatment of colorectal cancer
Saturday, March 28, 9 to 10 a.m.
McAuley room, Mercy Medical Plaza
To register, call Mercy On Call at
319-358-2767
or
800-358-2767
. Or register online,
www.mercy
iowacity.org
. Under “Online Services,” click on
“Register for a Class.”
Walk-ins are also welcome.
W
EVEN THE MOST
hesitant colonos-
copy candidates will agree to this im-
portant screening a er just a fewminutes
of talking to Anjana Aggarwal, MD.
A gastroenterologist who joined the
Mercy medical sta in April
, Dr.
Aggarwal is passionate about testing for
colorectal cancer. She is practicing at
Mercy Gastroenterology* a er years
of work in the Quad Cities and fellowship
training at the University of Iowa.
ALARMING NUMBERS
“It’s time for colon cancer screen-
ing to come to the forefront,” Dr. Aggarwal says, noting
that colon cancer is the second leading cancer killer in
the United States.
She points to these statistics:
is year, ,
people are expected to die of colorec-
tal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Screening could save more than half of those lives.
Colorectal cancer can not only be detected, but can
also be prevented, through screening. Precancerous
polyps that grow in the colon can be removed during a
colonoscopy, halting their progression to cancer.
Odds are in that a person will develop colorectal
cancer during his or her lifetime.
A colonoscopy and polyp removal reduce the risk of
cancer by an astounding percent.
For average-risk Americans, recommendations call
for the rst colonoscopy at age —or for African
Americans—with subsequent screenings every years.
B T V H , MD,
P
A
I
C
THE CHANGE OF
seasons can be
a beautiful sight. But when cooler
temperatures and decreased sunlight
bring on moodiness or depression, that
beauty is o en lost.
Seasonal a ective disorder (SAD) is
a form of depression brought on by seasonal change. It
usually occurs in the fall and winter.
e cause is uncertain, but it may be related to short-
ened daylight hours. Reduced exposure to sunlight decreases
serotonin (a brain chemical that a ects moods). Melatonin
levels are also a ected, which can disrupt sleep patterns.
People struggling with SADmay experience irritability,
low energy, trouble concentrating, weight gain, a greater
need for sleep and an increased desire to be alone.
If ignored, SAD symptoms can lead to social with-
drawal, school or work di culties, substance abuse, and
even suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Anyone can have SAD, but it’s most commonly
SAD: MORE THAN THE BLUES
diagnosed in women and young adults. Family history
plays a role too. When SAD is suspected, an evaluation
by a mental health professional is recommended.
Light therapy, psychotherapy and medications are
common treatments.
During light therapy, the patient sits next to a light
therapy box for a period of time each day. A special bulb
in the box mimics natural outdoor light. is usually
starts working within a few days, but results vary.
Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is another
option. Mental health professionals can help patients
learn healthy ways to manage stress and change negative
thought and behavior patterns.
Antidepressants may be prescribed when symptoms
are severe.
Simple life changes can also make a di erence. Keep-
ing blinds open, sitting close to bright windows and get-
ting outside (even on cold and cloudy days) can decrease
symptoms. In addition, regular exercise relieves stress
and anxiety.
To learn more, contact Psychiatric Associates of Iowa
City at
- -
.
HER MISSION: EDUCATE
WOMEN, RELUCTANT PATIENTS
Anjana Aggarwal, MD, says
she sees herself playing
an important role in
educating other women,
who often make the
health decisions in a
household.
“My goal is to educate
patients and primary
providers [about colonos-
copies],” she says.
Noting that most colon
Gastroenterologist emphasizes
importance of colonoscopy
WHY COLONOSCOPY?
“ e purpose is to prevent cancer,”
Dr. Aggarwal says. “A colonoscopy is the only way to do that.”
Dr. Aggarwal notes that polyps are found in to
percent of patients. Not all are precancerous, but they
need to be removed to know for certain.
at’s what makes a colonoscopy the “gold standard”
for colon cancer screening. Only during a colonoscopy
can polyps be removed for evaluation.
Another screening method is the stool test—also called
the fecal occult blood test—in which stool samples are
taken at home by the patient and sent back to the doctor’s
o ce. e samples are then checked for microscopic blood
that could signal cancer.
“Patients have to do it diligently every year and do it
right,” Dr. Aggarwal says. e downside is that polyps
don’t always bleed. is means that if the stool test doesn’t
nd occult blood, there is no guarantee there isn’t a polyp
or cancer present.
On the other hand, a colonoscopy can actually prevent
cancer. During the test, a doctor examines the colon and
rectum using a lighted instrument with a camera on the
end. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to examine the en-
tire colon and rectum and remove polyps, if necessary.
REDUCING THE “ICK” FACTOR
While the colonoscopy
prep—the laxative solution patients must drink to clean
out the colon—is o en described as the worst part of the
process, Dr. Aggarwal says some improvements have
been made. For example, just two to three liters can be
used, rather than the full gallon needed in the past. Using
a straw to drink the solution can help prevent nausea
associated with the prep.
Dr. Aggarwal says other screenings are available, includ-
ing a double-contrast barium enema and sigmoidoscopy,
Anjana
Aggarwal, MD
cancers develop without
any symptoms, Dr. Ag-
garwal says the need for
screenings is paramount.
“By the time you have
symptoms, it may be too
late,” she says.
To find more information
about colon cancer,
visit Mercy’s Health
Information Library at
.
Talking to women
which examines only a portion of the colon. Neither test
is performed o en because of their limitations.
A newer test, called CT colonography, uses a CT scan-
ner to produce detailed pictures of the colon and rectum.
Prep solutions are still needed before the test, and patients
are exposed to a small amount of radiation. If polyps
are detected, the patient would need to follow up with
a colonoscopy for their removal, Dr. Aggarwal says, and
some insurance plans don’t cover the test.
*Mercy Gastroenterology is located in Mercy Medi-
cal Plaza,
E. Je erson St., Iowa City. Telephone:
-
-
.
Todd
VerHoef, MD
4
W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2 0 1 5
W E L L
A W A R E
