Best Health • Fall 2022 7 If you could take steps to help prevent colorectal cancer—a leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths—would you? While there’s no surefire way to avoid colorectal cancer, there is one must-do medical test that definitely helps, as well as some healthy habits that can make a difference too. First and foremost, be screened. Getting recommended colorectal cancer screenings can help prevent the disease or detect it early, when it may be easier to treat. During a colonoscopy—considered the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening— doctors check the rectum and entire colon for cancer and growths called polyps. Since most colorectal cancers start as polyps, these can be removed during the test before they have a chance to turn into cancer. Other screening options (such as stool testing) can be good options too. “But if you get a positive result with other tests, the test you’ll need next is a colonoscopy,” says Matthew Leroy, MD, a general surgeon who performs colonoscopies at Neosho Memorial. “So I recommend colonoscopy, because it can identify and treat polyps all at the same time.” People at average risk for colorectal cancer should begin screening at age 45. You may need to start earlier if you’re at greater risk for colorectal cancer due to, for instance, a personal or strong family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. If you smoke, commit to quit. “Smoking and any tobacco use significantly increases your risk of cancer, including colon cancer,” Dr. Leroy says. If you need help quitting, don’t hesitate to ask your health care provider for advice. Be active. A sedentary lifestyle raises your colon cancer risk, Dr. Leroy notes. Find fun ways to get moving throughout your week, like walking or riding a bike. Watch your weight. Reaching and keeping a healthy weight may help lower your risk for colorectal cancer. Eating smaller portions of fatty foods (fat packs more calories bite-forbite) may help tip the scales in your favor. Moderate your meat intake. Do you eat a lot of red meats or processed or smoked meats, such as hot dogs, sausage, deli meats or pepperoni? If so, your diet could be increasing your colon cancer risk. Try to limit your portion sizes of these meats and how often you eat them while aiming for an overall healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Know the risks of alcohol. Regularly drinking alcohol may raise your risk for colorectal cancer. A quick ‘yes ’ for an exciting technology When Matthew Leroy, MD, and colleagues heard about an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could help them prevent more colorectal cancers, they knew they wanted to bring it to their patients. After the doctors talked to CEO Dennis E. Franks about the technology, the equipment was ordered by week’s end. That’s a win for patients and, in Dr. Leroy’s view, one of the strengths of Neosho Memorial. The GI Genius module uses AI software to highlight polyps during a colonoscopy, increasing the chances that a doctor will find and remove these precancerous growths. “Our administration is willing to listen when we have something we really believe in,” Dr. Leroy says. Matthew Leroy, MD
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