Since March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society wanted to share information on colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum, which is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

We spoke with Drs. Abrar Ahmed, Ben Kahn, and Christopher J. Vesy, all with the Texas Digestive Disease Consultants and Dallas Endoscopy Center.

Abrar Ahmed, M.D.

What would you tell your patients is the top preventative measure for colorectal cancer?

Get screened on time even if you feel completely fine. Colorectal cancer is often silent in early stages. Most people have no symptoms until it’s advanced. Screening is powerful, because it doesn’t just detect cancer early — it can prevent it entirely by finding and removing precancerous polyps during your colonoscopy.

Why would you recommend treatments/screenings in an ASC? 

Safe, controlled medical environment, lower infection risk, cost-effective, efficient and convenient, and specialized expertise 

Any other facts to share regarding Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? 

It’s more common than people think, and early colorectal cancer often causes no warning signs, which is why screening is so important. Family history and lifestyle choices (such as eating more fiber, fruits, and vegetables and limiting red and processed meats) also matter more than many realize, but most colorectal cancers are preventable.

Ben Kahn, M.D.

What would you tell your patients is the top preventative measure for colorectal cancer?

Make sure you get screened for colon cancer starting at age 45 or even sooner than that if you have a family history of colon cancer.

Do not ignore any “red flag” symptoms of colon cancer! These include symptoms such as blood in stool, unexplained changes in bowel habits, unintentional weight loss, or unexplained abdominal pain. The earlier colon cancer is found, the more likely it is able to be treated.

Any other facts to share regarding Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? 

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

Christopher J. Vesy, M.D.

What would you tell your patients is the top preventative measure for colorectal cancer?

Colonoscopy. It is not only the MOST sensitive exam for existing colon cancer, but, more importantly, NO other screening exam is also preventative. Only a colonoscopy for polyp detection and removal of polyps prevents colon cancer, since over 90% of colon cancers start in colon polyps that are growing over 8 to 10 years.

There has been confusion created in the general public and among primary care providers by other exams that screening for cancer is also prevention of cancer, no matter which tool is employed. This confusion has created a cashflow for big pharma at the cost of patient lives and health, since waiting to have cancer detected in a non-preventive screening exam prior to undergoing a colonoscopy is senseless. Only polyp removals can prevent future colon cancer. 

Why would you recommend treatments/screenings in an ASC? 

1) Quality: Better polyp detection rates and fewer complications (ask any GI doctor who works at an ASC) 2) Satisfaction: ASC personnel work for the patient experience at a daily and personal level. Patient satisfaction is their lifeline to their small business’ existence. 3) Affordability: Due to what happens in Austin and Washington, ASCs are reimbursed and, consequently, patients are charged half or less the price of an HOPD as paid by Medicare and insurance contracts. 

Any other facts to share regarding Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? 

Family history. The greatest risk factor for colon cancer, even more so than common sense risks for any cancer (tobacco, poor diet, lack of exercise), is genetics. Know your family history of colon and any other cancers, and share this with your doctor so that proper follow-up procedures and other screening recommendations may be given based on guidelines.