Clinical Corner
Colorectal Cancer Month Awareness Month
Clinical Corner
Colorectal Cancer Month Awareness Month
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the UF Health Cancer Center hosted several events and contests to raise awareness about this disease and the importance of regular screenings to save lives.
Throughout the month, people are encouraged to wear blue in order to promote awareness of colorectal cancer. The UF Health nursing, clinical and administrative staff were invited to participate in a “Best in Blue Spirit” competition to initiate a conversation about cancer screenings. Participation ranged from decorating offices to dying hair blue for the day.
On March 2, a giant inflatable colon was displayed in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium. Students, patients and staff were able to walk through the colon and see the various stages of the disease. In addition, visitors were able to interact with the da Vinci Surgical System Robot and learn about ways to prevent colorectal cancer, including new screening tests.
Colorectal Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in the United States in diseases that affect both men and women. In many cases, someone could have precancerous polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. If someone has symptoms, they may include blood in the stool, continuous stomach pain or cramps, and losing weight and not knowing why.
Fortunately, screening is very effective in finding polyps. In addition, screening can help physicians catch colorectal cancer at an early stage when treatment usually leads to a cure. Experts recommend that men and women over the age of 50 get screened as soon as possible. If someone is at high-risk for colon cancer, they should speak to their physician about when to begin screening.
The UF Health Gastrointestinal Oncology Center
The UF Health GI Oncology Program offers a wide range of advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities for patients with cancers of the anus, appendix, bile ducts, colon, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, rectum, retroperitoneum, small intestine and stomach.
The program is staffed by highly trained academic physicians with expertise in a variety of medical specialties and subspecialties, who collaborate to optimize rapid diagnosis and highly effective treatment of patients with digestive cancers.
The multidisciplinary team of digestive cancer specialists includes UF Health surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists and radiologists, as well as oncology nurses, genetic counselors, social workers, psychologists, nutritionists and integrative medicine specialists. To ensure the best possible outcomes, this team meets weekly to discuss and determine the best treatment plan for each individual patient — plans that incorporate the latest modalities, including access to experimental treatments and new therapies not available elsewhere.
