Gò0dNews from the Physician’s Desk
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Bandy Endoscopy Center
he new Bandy Endoscopy Center opened in the summer of
growths in the rectum or the colon (large intestine). People with
2019 at Hamilton Medical Center. The state-of-the-art center
precancerous growths or signs of colorectal cancer don’t always
adjoins Hamilton Medical Center and has both its own
have symptoms. That is why screening is so important. Through
entrance and convenient patient parking at the corner of Memorial
a colonoscopy, doctors can see and remove growths or suspicious
and Broadrick drives.
tissue before they become cancerous.
With the opening of the new Bandy Endoscopy Center,
Your risk for colorectal cancer increases if you:
Hamilton doubled the number of procedure suites and added
• Smoke
16 private patient rooms. Both gastrointestinal endoscopy and
• Have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative
bronchoscopy procedures are performed at the center. Hamilton provides minimally invasive procedures to diagnose
colitis, or Crohn’s disease • Have a family history of colorectal cancer
and treat a variety of digestive disorders, such as chronic heartburn
• Have a personal history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps
(also known as GERD or acid reflux), swallowing difficulty, and
• Have certain genetic syndromes (for example, Lynch or
Barrett’s esophagus.
familial adenomatous polyposis) • Have diabetes. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, even
though they do not necessarily indicate colorectal cancer: • A change in bowel habits (for example, diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way) • Bright or dark blood in stool • Stools narrower than usual • Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps • Weight loss for no known reason • Feeling very tired • Vomiting. Most people should schedule their first colonoscopy at age 50 and repeat the screening again every 10 years. However, some Testing procedures include: • Bronchoscopy: a test to view the airways and diagnose and treat pulmonary and lung diseases. • Colonoscopy: a procedure that allows a physician to look
people who are at a higher risk for colon cancer may need to be screened earlier and/or undergo more frequent screening. Please discuss this with your doctor. “I hope to make new patients feel comfortable,” said Brandee Albert, DO, gastroenterologist
inside your large intestine for inflamed tissue, abnormal
at Hamilton Physician Group-Gastroenterology. “I discuss the
growths, and ulcers.
procedures in detail and answer questions to ease any anxiety
• Endobronchial ultrasound: a technique that uses ultrasound along with bronchoscopy to visualize the airway wall and areas near it. • EGD: a procedure that allows a physician to look inside your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barrett’s Esophagus: For a small percentage of patients, acid reflux can result in a cancer of the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus. An outpatient treatment that removes the precancerous
patients may have.” A number of factors may put you at risk for colorectal cancer:
your age, medical history, race, or ethnicity. But you can reduce that risk. Here’s how:
• Undergo regular screenings • Exercise regularly and vigorously • Maintain a healthy diet (high in vegetables and fruits, low in red and processed meats)
tissue, called endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy (BARRX), is
• Maintain a healthy weight
available at the Bandy Endoscopy Center at Hamilton Medical Center.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer
• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps or other precancerous
28 // March 2020
Bandy Endoscopy Center
