Category: News

CBS News Reports “More Americans Are Getting Colon Cancer”

The nation’s cancer prevalence is showing concerning patterns, according to the most recent study from the American Cancer Society. More and more young people are receiving cancer diagnoses, including cervical, breast, and colon cancer. The rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses, which is currently the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women under 50 and the top cause of cancer deaths in men, is especially concerning.

Medical experts caution that although there has been a general decline in cancer-related deaths, the trend may be reversed due to an increase in the diagnosis of some dangerous cancer forms. Certain cancers are on the rise, including colorectal, uterine, renal, gastric, and pancreatic; they are impacted by lifestyle factors like obesity, tobacco use, and food.

Watch the short video discussing this topic in more detail

More colon cancer diagnoses at a younger age

 

 

Colonoscopy Prep Instructions

You will need to purchase these items below-these are all over the counter and you can find listed options of alternatives on the back of this sheet.

Miralax bottle (238 grams or 8.3 ounces)
(4) Dulcolax or bisacodyl tablets (5 milligram tablets)
(2) 32 oz. bottles of re-hydration (sports) drink except no red drinks (See back of this sheet for list of brands to choose from)

DAY ONE = one day prior to colonoscopy appointment

7:00 am

Begin clear liquid diet (list on back). Absolutely NO solid food or alcohol

10:00 am

Take 2 dulcolax tablets with water

3:00 pm

Take remaining 2 dulcolax tablets with water (do not crush or chew and do not take within 1 hour of taking an antacid

4:00 pm

Mix the bowel prep powder with both bottles of sports re-hydration drink. Before mixing, pour bowel prep powder in an empty pitcher or container and add rehydration drink. Chill if desired.

5:00 pm

Start to drink the Miralax. Drink (1) 8oz. glass every 15 minutes over a two hour period. Drink each glass quickly rather than drinking small amounts continuously. Continue to drink clear liquids the remainder of the evening.

DAY TWO = day of colonoscopy exam

  1. Starting two hours before your colonoscopy exam, stop ALL fluids. Take nothing (No Food or Drink) by mouth.
  2. For use of your medications, refer to orange medication instruction sheet enclosed.
  3. Call (585-461-2498) if you have any questions regarding any of these instructions.
  4. Arrive at your assigned time.

**We encourage clear liquid intake up to 2 hours before your procedure time**

CLEAR LIQUIDS (NO ALCOHOL): *Do not drink any liquid that is RED*

  • Water
  • Clear juices (apple, white grape juice, orange drink, white cranberry juice)
  • Black coffee or tea (no creamers) sugar OK
  • Bouillon or clear broth
  • Soda pop (Sprite, Ginger-ale, Mountain Dew), Gatorade (no red)
  • Jell-o (no red), popsicles (no red), Lemon Ice

BOWEL PREP TABLETS: (any of these brands)

DO NOT USE STOOL SOFTENERS

  • These are the PILLS to take at the start of your bowel prep
  • Bisacodyl (Generic)
  • Dulcolax
  • Dulcogen
  • Alophen
  • Bisco-lax
  • Carters Little Pills
  • Colax
  • Fleet Bisacodyl
  • Modane

RE-HYDRATION (SPORT) DRINKS: Two 32 oz bottles *NO RED DRINKS*

This is the liquid used to mix with the powder (below)

  • Powerade (contains less sugar than Gatorade)
  • Powerade zero (even less sugar, best for diabetics)
  • G2 (same amount of electrolytes as Gatorade, just less calories)
  • W-sport drink (Wegmans brand)
  • AllSport
  • HydraLife powder
  • Gatorade

BOWEL PREP POWDER

This is the powder to mix with the liquid (above)

  • Glycolax
  • PureLax
  • ClearLax
  • Miralax

Please Note:

  • Please wear socks as it sometimes can get cool in the procedure room.
  • No nail polish on fingers only (you do not need to remove acrylic nails). The nail polish may interfere with the oxygen sensor that is placed on your finger.
  • Diabetics may use Powerade Zero as it contains less sugar than regular Powerade.

Care for Your Colon by Eating More of These Foods

The CDC indicates us that colon cancer is the third most common cancer that affects both men and women. Sadly, colorectal cancer is also rising among young people.

Now more than ever, it’s important to make sure that you are proactively taking the steps to be sure your colon is healthy early in life!

Continue reading “Care for Your Colon by Eating More of These Foods”

Dr. Stephen M. Rauh Retires

After a remarkable 31 year career, Dr. Rauh has retired from clinical practice and will no longer be seeing patients.

Dr. Rauh joined Dr. Graney and Dr. Dmochowski in 1989 and quickly became a leader in colon and rectal surgery, highly regarded in the region and throughout the country. As managing partner of RCRS for nearly his entire career, he was instrumental in the growth of the practice into what it is today: 8 full-time physicians and 4 advanced practice providers seeing thousands of patients per year across 6 locations.

In 2008 he and Dr. Ognibene performed the first robotic colon resection in upstate New York. Thanks to his expertise and innovative thinking, RCRS is now amongst the leaders in robotic colon and rectal surgery worldwide, having performed several thousand robotic operations to date.

Throughout an extraordinary career of dedication and hard work, Dr. Rauh has been known for providing compassionate care of the highest standard. His patients and staff who have worked with him will miss him dearly. We have fond memories and we wish Dr. Rauh the best in his retirement, which is well deserved! Thank you, Dr Rauh, for all your contributions to RCRS.

Welcome Dr. Aaron Rickles, MD to Rochester Colon & Rectal Surgeons

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Aaron Rickles, MD to the team at Rochester Colon & Rectal Surgeons, P.C. He had completed his fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida which is the largest training program in the nation. He also held a notable residency in General Surgery at the University of Rochester. Among other honors, Dr. Aaron Rickles, MD will be a great member of our team to provide excellent care for our patients. 

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Early Screening is Essential to the Prevention of Colon and Rectal Cancers. Early screening can also affect the Cure Rate of Colon and Rectal Cancers.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly occurring cancer in the USA and nearly five percent of Americans will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. At any time, over one million Americans are currently living with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with over 56,000 people expected to die from this disease each year.

However, it is a preventable and very curable disease if caught early.

Because there are often no symptoms when it is first developing, colorectal cancer can only be caught early through regular screening.

The possibility of curing patients after symptoms develop is only 50%, but if colorectal cancer is found and treated at an early stage before symptoms develop, the opportunity to cure it is 80% or better.

Most colon cancers start as non-cancerous growths called polyps. If these polyps are found early, while they are still non-cancerous, they can be removed and the cancer may be prevented. Major surgery can usually be avoided, as well.

Colorectal surgeons are experts in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of colon and rectal problems and play an instrumental role in the effective screening, prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. Studies have shown that patients treated by colorectal surgeons are more likely to survive colorectal cancer because of their advanced training and the large number of colon and rectal disease surgeries they perform.

At RCRS we offer colonoscopies in our convenient outpatient procedure centers, often at lesser cost compared to colonoscopies in the hospital setting. Female and Male providers are available for colorectal cancer screening.

Call us to learn more or to arrange for a pre colonoscopy visit.