Community Joins Hospital for a Colorectal Cancer Seminar

DELAND, Fla., April 4, 2018 On March 26, AdventHealth DeLand hosted a free seminar on colorectal cancer.

AdventHealth DeLand gastroenterologists Dr. Martin Prado and Dr. Maria Soriano Co discussed common disorders and symptoms associated with the digestive system, such as celiac disease, Crohns disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticular disease, and colorectal cancer.

In the U.S., colon cancer is unfortunately all too common, said Co. About 1 in 20 will be diagnosed with colon cancer in their lifetime and it is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths.

Colon cancer is also one of the more preventable cancers.

Approximately 60 percent of all colon cancer deaths could be prevented with regular screenings, said Co. However, 1 in 3 adults are not up-to-date with the recommended colon cancer screening, putting them at risk for developing colon cancer.

Colonoscopies have been shown to prevent colorectal cancer altogether by finding and removing polyps early, before they can become cancerous, which can take approximately 10 to 15 years.

There are two different types of polyps: hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps, said Prado. Hyperplastic polyps are low risk polyps, as there is a very small chance they'll grow into cancer. However, adenomas start out as benign tumors, but are at a high risk for becoming cancerous. In fact, about 9 out of 10 colon and rectal cancers start as adenomas.

About AdventHealth DeLand

AdventHealth DeLand is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 45 hospital campuses and 8,200 licensed beds in nine states, serving more than 5 million patients annually. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, AdventHealth DeLand has 164-beds and is one of the seven AdventHealths in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties that composes the AdventHealth Central Florida Division - North Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the AdventHealth Central Florida Division - North Region has 1,226 beds and more than 7,800 employees.