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Early colon screenings save lives.

Regular screenings make early detection, and in some cases even prevention, possible. If you are 45 or older, schedule your screening today!

Screening Saves Lives

Regular screenings makes early detection, and in some cases even prevention, possible. Our physicians work closely with patients and their families to provide compassionate care and to ensure outcomes that improve the quality of life for our patients.

You may also be able to fast track a colonoscopy

Colon Cancer at a Glance

 

What is a Fast Track Colonoscopy?

A Fast Track Colonoscopy also known as an Open Access Endoscopy does not require a pre-screening visit or consultation. If you are at average risk for colon cancer you can save time by eliminating the pre-procedure consultation that usually accompanies a colonoscopy screening appointment.

 

This efficient approach is a smart way to proactively manage your health and could actually prevent colon cancer. Instead of scheduling pre-consultation or pre-screening appointments, you simply schedule yourself for a fast track screening and come into our Cancer Center on the day of your appointment.  We will conduct your consultation, screening, and any operative care if cancerous polyps are found, all on the same day.

Colon Cancer Screenings Saves Lives

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States in men and women combined – but it doesn’t have to be. As many as 60% of the deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented if caught early enough and many can be treated during a screening colonoscopy. The American Cancer Society recommends that people of average risk of colorectal cancer start regular colonoscopy screening or also referred to as colorectal screenings at age 45. Individuals in good health should continue to get regular screenings through age 75, but those who are not considered at increased or high risk for colon cancer should be screened more frequently. Talk with a physician about recommended frequency based on your individual risk factors. 

Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?
Fast Track Colonoscopy screenings are not for everyone. Patients must meet certain criteria to qualify for a Fast Track Colonoscopy. You may be a great candidate if you do not have any pre-existing medical conditions or prior individual or family history, such as:

  • Family history of colorectal cancer (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) 
  • Family or individual history of inflammatory bowel disease
  • Active Rectal Bleeding

To find out if you qualify, please call (602) 406-8222. If you have one of the above conditions or another condition of concern you will go through the typical pre-screening consultation with your primary care provider. Find a primary care doctor to schedule your initial evaluation. 

Schedule Your Screening

We are currently accepting new patients at all our Dignity Health locations. Once we have completed your consultation and collected your information it will take as little as two weeks to get on track for your colonoscopy screening. Most insurance plans are accepted. To find out if you are a candidate for a Fast Track Colonoscopy, please call (602) 406-8222.

Referral Information
Physicians and primary care providers may refer patients directly for routine and Fast Track Colonoscopy screenings. Please fax patient referral forms to 602.294.5681. Patients can self-refer by calling (602) 406-8222.

Our locations

Get screened for colon cancer

The best prevention is routine screenings. Schedule an appointment today!

We’re pleased to offer a screening colonoscopy program for all patients. One of the highlights of this program is our Fast Track Colonoscopy for patients without major medical problems. This open access procedure does not require a pre-screening visit or consultation – your physician will conduct your consultation and colonoscopy on the same day. And if you do have medical problems, we can still do the colonoscopy but your physician may need to see you in the office before the procedure. Call 602.406.8222 to discuss your options.

Our interdisciplinary team considers the right care plan from multiple perspectives, often consulting with our other experts in a tumor board to gather up-to-the-moment insight on treatment options.  

Then, your course of treatment will be designed to suit your exact medical needs, using precision medicine to do the most good while remaining minimally invasive. That means we’re focused not just on eradicating the disease, but on preserving your quality of life before, during, and after your treatment.

We are here to help you heal as a whole person.  Wherever your care path leads, you can be sure our entire team will be there with you every step of the way.

Learn more about colon screenings

Frequently Asked Questions

The best prevention is routine screenings. When identified in the early stages it is very responsive to treatment. A combination of several treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be recommended to offer the best chance of survival.

Risk Factors

  • Risk factors that play a role in the development of colorectal cancer are:
  • Age – Colorectal cancer is most common in people over 50
  • Diet – Eating foods high in fat and low in calcium, folate, and fiber
  • History of Polyps – Polyps can develop into cancer if left untreated
  • Family History of Cancer – There appears to be a genetic link
  • Smoking
  • History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis

Symptoms

  • In the early stages there may be no symptoms. As the cancer develops you may experience:
  • Changes in bowel movements such as diarrhea or constipation
  • Blood in stool
  • Abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, or gas
  • Unintentional weight loss 10lbs
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting

Dignity Health offers the most advanced procedures in colorectal cancer surgery. Our team of oncology experts are sensitive to your urgent needs and have compassion and humankindness. Our specialists work side-by-side to carefully review complex cases and develop personalized treatment plans.

Our skilled surgeons use minimally invasive surgical procedures to reduce risk and optimize outcomes. We invest in advanced imaging technologies and radiation therapies to target tumors with greater precision.

You should choose Dignity Health because we’ve built a reputation for innovative therapies and surgical techniques that minimize the need for temporary or permanent colostomies. Our holistic approach is evident in services designed to treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

Colorectal cancer—cancer of the colon or rectum—is the third most common type of cancer and the second cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Most cases of colon cancer begin as small groupings of noncancerous cells called polyps, which can become colon cancers over time.

Many people with colon cancer show no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they will likely vary, based on the size and location of cancer cells. The symptoms are often attributed to other benign conditions.

Diagnosis

If your tests or symptoms are relevant to colon cancer, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy. This procedure involves using a long flexible tube with a tiny video camera at the end to examine the colon and rectum. The tube can also be fitted with surgical tools for collecting tissue samples. If cancer is discovered, and it is small, your doctor may be able to remove it completely during the colonoscopy.

Treatment

Your treatment will largely depend on how advanced the cancer is and how far it has spread. Surgery may be the only required treatment, or it may be part of a broader treatment program. In many cases, surgery can be performed using minimally invasive techniques that require only small incisions. This includes laparoscopic or robotic technology. Our specialists at Dignity Health can help you understand the benefits and details of these techniques during your consultation.

Pre-surgery

Before your surgery, you may be asked to drink plenty of water and follow a special diet to help limit your discomfort. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to suppress the bacteria found naturally in your colon and prevent infection. The day before your procedure, we will recommend a clear-liquid diet and an enema or laxative to clean out your system.

If your cancer is at an early stage and confined to the rectum, your doctor may perform what is known as a local excision. It removes the cancer cells and some tissue from the rectal wall. It may be done through the anus or through a small cut in the rectum. It does not require a major abdominal surgery.

Procedures

For cancers of the colon, you may undergo a colectomy—a procedure that removes the cancer cells and part or all of the colon. When possible, a colectomy is done with laparoscopic or robotic surgery, which involves several small incisions in your abdomen. Your surgeon will pass a tiny video camera through one incision and special surgical tools through the other incisions.

The benefit of laparoscopic and robotic surgery is that smaller incisions generally mean:

  • earlier return of bowel function

     

  • faster recovery

     

  • decreased blood loss

     

  • reduced post-operative pain

     

  • shorter hospital stay

     

The type of operation you undergo is largely dependent on your individual factors. Those who have had extensive abdominal procedures before, or those who have large tumors, may not be candidates for minimally invasive surgery. Your operation may also begin as a laparoscopic or robotic colectomy, but progress to an open procedure if deemed necessary by your surgeon.

Benefits of Robotic Surgery

With robotic surgery, colorectal surgeons benefit from improved 3D visualization and maneuverability within difficult-to-access pelvic spaces. Robotic surgery offers surgeons a high degree of precision, control, and dexterity.

In addition, the enhanced magnification helps surgeons minimize trauma to important nerves and vessels, thereby preserving important biological functions such as urination and sex, which are essential for quality of life.

Reconnection

Once the colon has been repaired or removed, your surgeon will reconnect your digestive system to allow your body to expel waste. There are different ways to do this.

Your surgeon may be able to stitch up the remaining portions of the colon so that stool is eliminated from your body as it was before the surgery.

If the colon and rectum are both removed, your surgeon may use a portion of your small intestine to create a pouch that is attached to your anus. This allows you to expel waste normally, though you may have several watery bowel movements a day.

Your surgeon may attach your colon or small intestine to an opening created in your abdomen called a stoma. If the colon is attached to the stoma, it is called a colostomy. If the small intestine is attached to the stoma, it is called an ileostomy. However, this situation is usually not permanent. Once you have recovered, another operation (known as a colostomy reversal or ileostomy reversal) can be done to put the ends of the colon back together or to attach the intestine to the colon. Sometimes the colostomy or ileostomy may need to be permanent.

An average hospital stay is two to four days for laparoscopic or robotic procedures and about three to five days for open procedures. You will be discharged when you:

  • can tolerate a diet without needing IV fluids

     

  • have evidence of bowel function

     

  • have pain that is reasonably controlled

     

As your system recovers, you will transition from drinking clear liquids to soft foods, and eventually to solid foods.

Ostomies

If your surgery involved a colostomy or ileostomy, you will meet with a nurse who will show you how to care for your stoma and manage the appropriate appliance. Your nurse will also show you how to care for the incision site. Generally speaking, you will wash your hands first and avoid any creams, salves, ointments, or powders. You may take a shower, but don’t take a tub bath until your doctor approves it.

Recovery at Home

Once you leave the hospital, expect at least a couple of weeks for recovery. You may have a low appetite and feel weak at first, but eventually, your strength will return. Talk to your doctor about when you can expect to return to your normal routine.

Digestion

After colon surgery, most people have a bowel movement within two to five days. However, every person is different. Some people may use the toilet once every three days, while others may use it multiple times a day. It can take four to six weeks or more for your bowel habits to settle down to a regular pattern.

You may have some associated discomfort, particularly if bowel movements are hard. It is therefore important to keep your stools soft by drinking plenty of liquids and taking a stool softener as needed.

Medication

After surgery, you will receive medications in the hospital and will be discharged with a similar regimen. Non-narcotic pain medications are designed to be taken on a regular schedule every six to eight hours. They prevent the buildup of pain over time. You may be prescribed a narcotic medication for breakthrough pain; however, these drugs can cause constipation and are not for long-term use.

Be sure to read all warning labels or consult with a pharmacist regarding any potential drug interactions, and take medication only as directed by your physician.

Activity

When returning to work and other daily activities, do only what you are comfortable with. It is better to ramp up slowly than to get back to the same level of activity too fast.

After minor surgery, most people take at least two to five days off. After more extensive procedures, you may need up to a month of rest before you can sit comfortably for extended periods of time. You should avoid heavy lifting for at least a month after abdominal surgery, regardless of type.

Recovering from colorectal surgery can be both physically and emotionally taxing. Family and friends can make your recovery easier by providing compassionate care and exercising patience and understanding.

Dining and Travel – Dining out may not be possible in the weeks and months after surgery as your body will be adapting to bowel changes and dietary limitations. Travel may also be difficult as you may need to use a restroom more frequently.

Ostomies – Some conditions necessitate a colostomy or ileostomy, in which the upper end of the bowel or intestine is brought outside the abdomen and connected to a collection bag. Your caregiver can help ease the transition by providing both practical and emotional support. A good ostomy nurse can educate you and your caregiver on how to properly care for the appliance.