Jun 12 2007
Grandma and Grandson Benefit from Medical Advancement in Colon Cancer Treatment
(ARA) - Nick Souleotes, 43, and his 92-year-old grandmother, Ruth Franks, were diagnosed with colon cancer on the same day and four days later had their cancer removed through minimally invasive colon surgery. Both are thankful for the minimally invasive treatment option that got them back to their lives quicker than they expected.
Nick and Ruth are two of the nearly 150,000 Americans who develop colon cancer each year. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it can be prevented through regular screening, and if detected early, it also is one of the most treatable and beatable cancers.
Medical advancements have made minimally invasive surgery a treatment option for colon cancer patients offering less pain and a quicker return to normal activities than conventional surgery.
Nick and Ruth’s Story
Nick and Ruth were both experiencing blood in their stool and abdominal pain, so they went to their individual physicians who each recommended they see a gastroenterologist and receive a colonoscopy. Neither had received a colonoscopy before nor did they anticipate what was about to happen next. They were both diagnosed with colon cancer and were referred to the same colorectal surgeon, Dr. Mark Parker.
Dr. Parker recommended that they both have their colon cancers removed as soon as possible using minimally invasive surgery. They were diagnosed on a Monday and were scheduled for surgery the following Thursday. Nick and Ruth had approximately 14 inches each of their colons removed through three dime sized incisions.
“The procedure was nothing like I expected — it was a whole lot better,” Nick said. “I was in the hospital for four days and even at 92 years old, grandma was only in the hospital for five days. I was cutting grass the day after I got home from the hospital and experienced no pain.”
“Patients need to be educated so they can work with their doctor to choose the best treatment options for them,” Dr. Parker said. “Minimally invasive surgery has been clinically proven to be just as effective as conventional surgery for the treatment of colon cancer when performed by an experienced surgeon.”
Talk to your doctor and visit www.colonsurgeryinfo.com for more information on colon cancer and your treatment options. As with any surgical procedure, surgery for colon cancer may present risks. Individual patient results may vary and are not indicative of all outcomes. Patients should consult their physician to determine whether a minimally invasive procedure is right for them.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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