Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with Dr. Sachin Vaid

Kemal Erkan, Chairman of American Surgery Center, goes live with Dr. Sachin Vaid to discuss Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Vaid has been with Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery (CHRIAS) and American Surgery Center since 2015; he specializes in colorectal surgery. Dr. Vaid references the methods he utilizes during his procedures; “ninety-five percent of it is minimally invasive; it is a combination of using the robot or the laparoscope”. It is all patient-tailored and patient-dependent.

Colorectal Awareness Month takes place in March to bring light to the importance of screening for colorectal cancer. Early detection of cancer in the colon, rectum, or anus is pertinent in preventing further development. Because colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer type in the world, it is crucial to emphasize the need for screening beginning at the age of forty-five. According to CDC guidelines, if you are between the ages of forty-five and seventy-five, you may be at high risk of developing colorectal cancer. It is important to have these discussions with your doctor.

Colorectal cancer is a very impactful cancer in the United States. Colorectal cancer is the third leading death-causing cancer. Previously, this type of cancer was known to affect older individuals; however, recently, a large number of young people are being diagnosed. Because of this, the suggested age to receive a colonoscopy has lowered to age forty-five; “which is good” claims Dr. Vaid. “If you have any symptoms in terms of your bowel habits, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, I think you should be seen by a colorectal surgeon or a gastroenterologist… then he or she can evaluate you and figure out if a colonoscopy is needed”. It is very important to bring these issues to light because a colonoscopy can detect cancer at an early stage, or a small pre-cancerous polyp. It is absolutely pertinent to detect these issues early on before they develop into something major. “If you catch it early, you are cured by a surgical procedure,” regarding all stage one and most of stage two cancers. This is why getting a colonoscopy regularly is extremely important. There is a five year survival rate of more than eighty percent of patients.

Kemal Erkan raises the question of why people do not want to be screened. Dr. Vaid responds with, “most people are very serious about it… though one thing is lack of awareness and education, meaning if they have any change in their bowel habits… they sometimes don’t know where to go… but once it gets persistent they are examined”. This, however, is not a screening. A screening colonoscopy is done before symptoms arise. People tend to fear the preparation for the screening which, as a result, pushes the screening later in their lives. The methods of preparation have become less severe than they have been in the past; more people are becoming aware of this, but everyone should educate themselves and be aware of this. The pros to being screened far outweigh the cons of suffering from colorectal cancer that could have been prevented.

Erkan explains his experience with Cologuard, and that he was frightened to do it at home. Dr. Vaid states, “Cologuard is not a replacement for a colonoscopy due to the fact that this method has high false positives and false negatives”. He also mentions that the Cologuard commercials they advertise that Cologuard can detect cancer and polyps; however, he adds, “it is already too late when you detect those things”. A colonoscopy helps detect and remove early polyps and small polyps that turn into cancer later on.

“Colon cancer is primarily a surgical disease. The surgeon is the driver or the captain of the ship for management of colon cancer,” Dr. Vaid says. Gastroenterologists help to diagnose the disease; they perform the colonoscopies, identify any issues, remove the polyps, and detect the evidence of cancer. If your cancer is advanced, you need a medical oncologist. All of these roles are pertinent to preventing and treating colorectal cancer. “For regular colon cancers, I would typically say that radiation is not needed,” Dr. Vaid added. “For rectum, you will need all three roles”. These roles are the gastroenterologist, the surgeon and the oncologist. The sequencing of what is needed varies from patient to patient; the process is tailored to the individual.

Kemal asked if there was anything Dr. Vaid would recommend to primary care physicians when they encounter a stubborn patient. Dr. Vaid replied, “Please be aware that the new age for a colonoscopy screening is forty-five… if anyone has a family history of colon or rectal cancer you need to start ten years before, and number three if someone comes to you with any symptoms… please do not ignore that,” Dr. Vaid advises if a patient ever has any questions or concerns, they should reach out to their physician can address them. Colorectal cancer can be treated and prevented, so it is important to catch any and all signs early on.