Bandy Endoscopy Center

The new Bandy Endoscopy Center opened in the summer of 2019 at Hamilton Medical Center. The state-of-the-art center adjoins Hamilton Medical Center and has both its own entrance and convenient patient parking at the corner of Memorial and Broadrick drives.

With the opening of the new Bandy Endoscopy Center, Hamilton doubled the number of procedure suites and added 16 private patient rooms. Both gastrointestinal endoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures are performed at the center.

Hamilton provides minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a variety of digestive disorders, such as chronic heartburn (also known as GERD or acid reflux), swallowing difficulty, and Barrett’s esophagus.

28 // March 2020 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 inside your large intestine for inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers. • 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 tissue, called endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy (BARRX), is available at the Bandy Endoscopy Center at Hamilton Medical Center. According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps or other precancerous

growths in the rectum or the colon (large intestine). People with precancerous growths or signs of colorectal cancer don’t always have symptoms. That is why screening is so important. Through a colonoscopy, doctors can see and remove growths or suspicious tissue before they become cancerous. Your risk for colorectal cancer increases if you: • Smoke • Have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease • Have a family history of colorectal cancer • Have a personal history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps • Have certain genetic syndromes (for example, Lynch or 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 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 at Hamilton Physician Group-Gastroenterology. “I discuss the procedures in detail and answer questions to ease any anxiety 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) • Maintain a healthy weight • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink • Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.

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