Colorectal cancer screening saves lives–but only when people can access it
A message for St. John’s Health
JACKSON, Wyo. – Millennials, take note. Once viewed as a disease of old age, colorectal cancer rates are on the rise in younger populations.
“Talking with my colleagues across the country, we’re all suspicious of the situation,” says general and robotic surgeon Dr. Eric Wieman at St. John’s Health (SJH). “It’s a really unusual scenario.”
For one, cancer rates in general are declining. Plus, it’s rare to see rates increase in younger populations. And yet today, 1 in 5 colorectal cancer diagnoses occur in patients younger than 55.
The reasons behind this surge have yet to be fully explained, but one thing is for sure. The most powerful tool we have to combat colorectal cancer’s rising rates is screening.
Thanks to the generous support of St. John’s Health Foundation, SJH recently built a new, expanded endoscopy suite. The suite’s increased capacity means we can offer more appointments and improve access to essential screenings. It’s just one of the ways SJH is working to bring cancer care closer to home for our community.
The colonoscopy: A powerful, proactive tool
Screening for colorectal cancer consists of a colonoscopy: a medical procedure where a surgeon examines that inside of your colon and rectum using a long, flexible tube equipped with miniscule equipment.
Currently, the age recommendation for individuals to begin routine screening is 45—a number that’s dropped in recent years as early-onset diagnoses have increased, and one that Dr. Wieman says he wouldn’t be surprised to see lowered again.
Additionally, risk factors including family history and genetic predispositions may lead people to consider starting earlier than the guidelines recommend.
That’s why Dr. Wieman encourages individuals to take advantage of St. John’s Health’s open access screening. “Once you sign up, we’ll talk through your personal situation so we can identify the risk you have based on your history and genetics. We’ll determine whether you should start getting screened ASAP, or whether your risk actually isn’t that high and we don’t have to screen you as early or often.”
It’s important to note that Dr. Wieman and his team aren’t just looking for cancer during a colonoscopy. Sometimes, it’s about identifying and removing precancerous lesions or small polyps that could develop into cancer over time.
This process can also help patients identify risk factors for conditions beyond the gut, says Dr. Wieman.
“Sometimes we’ll be working with patients in the context of colon screening, and we’ll find out that they have hereditary factors that put them at a higher risk of other cancers and conditions. So, this can be a really pivotal moment in their life where people can get the evaluations and care that they need—especially for individuals who aren’t heavily involved in the medical system or haven’t regularly seen a primary care physician.”
Four ways SJH makes it easy to get screened
“It’s never been easier to get a colonoscopy,” says Dr. Wieman of the consultation, scheduling, and screening process. “We’ve worked to make it as simple and comfortable as possible.”
- Self-service online scheduling: SJH offers open access screening, which means patients can schedule routine procedures like colonoscopies directly—no preliminary in-person consultation needed. If you’re ready, just click the link here.
- Personalized risk factor consultation: After enrolling online, one of our nurses will reach out to go over your family and medical information and help determine what type of screening is most appropriate for you. This step is critical, says Dr. Wieman: “Sometimes people will say – someone in my family had this type of cancer, do I need to get screened? And the answer might be no. We’ll either help you get the necessary procedure you need, or help you avoid an unnecessary one.”
- Flexible appointments and availability: We offer flexible appointment options so that patients can receive care when it works for their life and schedule. And thanks to recent upgrades and expansions to our endoscopy suite, we’re able to offer even more availability, and get more patients in the door for screening faster than ever.
- Commitment to your comfort: From providing detailed prep instructions, to our newly upgraded endoscopy suite facilities, to making sure you’re comfortable on the day-of, our team is committed to making screening as seamless and stress-free as possible.
“The procedure only takes about 30 – 45 minutes and is really well tolerated by the vast majority of people,” says Dr. Wieman. As a colon cancer survivor himself, Dr. Wieman understands both the nerves and process intimately. He hopes patients feel reassured knowing the procedure is quick, straightforward, and results are often available the very same day.
Expanding access to cancer screening in our community
Access to screening is part of the push SJH has made to expand preventive services and general cancer care in region.
“We want to do a great job of providing access and making screening available, so that we can screen a higher number of patients in our community,” says Dr. Wieman.
Wondering if scheduling a colonoscopy makes sense for you? Dr. Wieman and the team at SJH is here to help: “If people have concerns or questions, we’re always happy to talk to them—whether you decide to get screened or not.”
