Today’s guest blog comes to us from Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa. The focus is on the importance of regular colonoscopy screenings. According to the American Cancer Society, “preventing colorectal cancer (and not just finding it early) should be a major reason for getting tested.” Mountain Vista Medical Center will be offering a free Colorectal Cancer Awareness Seminar at noon on Tuesday, March 14. During the seminar, Gastroenterology Fellows Dr. Sara Ancello and Dr. Jordan Vulcano will provide tips to minimize your risk of getting colorectal cancer, identify common symptoms, and become more familiar with treatment options.  More information on the event is available at the bottom of the blog or by clicking here. Below, courtesy of Mountain Vista, is the story of a local woman whose decision to get a colonoscopy may have saved her life. 

When Mesa resident Lori Slattery turned 50, her doctor recommended that she get a colonoscopy. Like many people her age, her initial response was, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll get to it later.”

Lori had been super healthy all her life. Her father lived to be 90, and she didn’t have a history of colon cancer in her family. 

 Four years later, she caved in and got a colonoscopy. She is sure glad that she did. After the screening, her doctor told her that she had a pre-cancerous polyp.  

As a mother and grandmother, Lori decided right then and there that she wanted to be aggressive with her treatment options. About a year and a half ago, she had her appendix, a portion of her colon, and a section of her small intestine removed. 

Lori healed up wonderfully following her surgery. After being re-tested, she learned that all of her tissue was polyp-free, making her incredibly grateful to be alive.   

Lori is not alone. About 1 in 21 men, and 1 in 23 women, will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. And routine colonoscopy screenings could help prevent at least 60 percent of the deaths caused by colon cancer, according to the CDC.  

That’s why this free Colorectal Cancer Seminar, held by Mountain Vista Medical Center on Tuesday, March 14, is so important. If one life can be saved, then we’ve done our jobs.  

MOUNTAIN VISTA MEDICAL CENTER HOLDS FREE COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS SEMINAR IN MESA ON TUESDAY, MARCH 14

WHAT:
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors at Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa are reminding adults over the age of 40 about the importance of regular colonoscopy screenings.

The hospital will hold a FREE Colorectal Cancer Awareness Seminar at noon on Tuesday, March 14. During the seminar, Gastroenterology Fellows Dr. Sara Ancello and Dr. Jordan Vulcano will provide tips to minimize your risk of getting colorectal cancer, identify common symptoms, and become more familiar with treatment options.   

WHY:
Colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer), is the third most common type of cancer, and the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States.

 Colon cancer is a preventable cancer in a significant number of patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that routine colonoscopy screenings could help prevent at least 60 percent of the deaths caused by colon cancer. 

WHO:
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 21 men, and 1 in 23 women, will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetime.

Nearly 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 years of age or older. However, people with a family history of colon cancer or other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, or those experiencing symptoms should begin screening at age 40 (or about 10 years younger than the earliest diagnosis in the family.)

Anyone experiencing blood in their stool, anemia, a change in bowel habits, narrowed stool, a close family history of colon and other GI cancers, or a history of inflammatory bowel disease should speak with a gastroenterologist about scheduling a colonoscopy.

WHEN:                  

Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at noon 

WHERE:                 

Mountain Vista Medical Center, 1301 S. Crismon Rd., Mesa, AZ 85209

Park and enter through the Outpatient Entrance of the hospital, which is located on the east side of the hospital. Proceed to the second floor and go through the double doors to the classrooms. You do not need to print your tickets for this free event.

REGISTER:             

Call (480) 358-6450 or visit www.mvmedicalcenter.com to register for this free event.