 |
Early Detection Is Worth a Pound of Cure
With the new technology
medicine has to offer today,
Benjamin Franklin may have
revised his famous quote to be: "An ounce
of prevention and early detection is worth
a pound of cure."
It was early detection, along with
advanced surgical technology and skilled
physicians, that saved Nick Goumas from
colon cancer.
Nick, 51, admitted to being delinquent
in having a colonoscopy done. "So when
Cigna sent me a home kit to test my blood
and stool, I decided to take the test."
When Nick received a positive result, he
was instructed to follow up with his doctor.
From that point, Nick was on the road
to an effective treatment through Riverview
Medical Center.
Nick went to his primary care doctor,
Kalyani Gardilla, M.D., who referred him
to Robert Gialanella, M.D., a board
certified gastroenterologist. Nick’s first step
with Dr. Gialanella was a colonoscopy,
which revealed a number of benign polyps
and a very large tumor — about the size
of a golf ball. Nick was concerned about
the prognosis but felt reassured as soon as
he met his surgeon, Walter Hayne, M.D., a board certified surgeon affiliated
with Riverview.
"Dr. Hayne was incredibly professional,
and he really took the time to explain all the
issues and possible risks associated
with a laparoscopic surgery,"
says Nick. "I wanted to have
the surgery with Dr. Hayne,
because he had done a
number of laparoscopic
surgeries on cases just
like mine. He also had
excellent training."
Advanced Technology in the Right Hands
Dr. Hayne has an
impressive educational
and professional
background. Trained at
Temple University and
Cornell Medical Center with
annual rotations at Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center, he is also skilled
in laparoscopic surgery and has performed
many laparoscopic colon resections.
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally
invasive surgical technique in which
operations are performed through small
incisions. "Laparoscopic surgery, by and
large, is the best approach for the patient,"
explains Dr. Hayne. "For a patient like
Nick, a laparoscopic colon resection
means much smaller incisions, quicker
recovery, and fewer complications." Laparoscopic surgeries are performed
through incisions that are usually about
1 centimeter long. Many surgeries are now
performed using this approach, which is
why Riverview Medical Center recently
built two new laparoscopic operating
rooms. Physicians often prefer this technique
even though the surgery may take
longer, because of the easier recovery it
provides for patients.
Getting Home Faster
Unlike the typical colon resection,
which requires about
six weeks of recovery time,
patients who receive
laparoscopic surgery can
recover after two weeks.
"I was in the hospital
for five days and then
spent two weeks at
home recovering,"
Nick recalls. "By the
second week, I felt like
myself again."
After the surgery, Nick
was even more relieved
to hear that the tumor was
benign. "I was so lucky that
we found it early. The doctor
told me that in another couple of
years, it may have become cancerous,"
recounts Nick.
Six weeks after the surgery, Nick was
back on the elliptical machine, his favorite
exercise. "Now I feel great," says the
Holmdel resident, "and I have no doubt
the laparoscopic surgery and Dr. Hayne
are the reasons for my quick recovery."
There is just one thing that is different
for Nick since the surgery. "Now I
stop to smell the tulips!" he says.
 – Tria Deibert
|
Take this quiz to learn the risk of colorectal
cancer, or cancer of the colon or rectum.
True or False?
- Women do not need to worry about colorectal cancer.
True False
- Walking may help prevent colorectal cancer.
True False
- Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of colon cancer.
True False
1. False. The disease strikes women and
men almost equally. Age, rather than gender,
is a major risk factor. Beginning at
age 50 — if not sooner — your doctor may
recommend that you regularly have one or
more of the following screening tests:
- Rectal exam
- A blood stool test
- X-rays of the large intestine
- Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
2. True. Evidence suggests that walking
for 60 minutes a day may decrease prostaglandin
E2 levels — a substance associated
with colorectal cancer.
Other prevention strategies: Avoid smoking
and eat a diet low in fat. Some studies
also show that eating a lot of fruits,
vegetables, and whole-grain products may
reduce your risk.
3. True. Other symptoms include blood in
the stool, frequent stomach discomfort,
and unusual changes in bowel habits.
|
|
