Fact:At least 6 out of every 10 deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented if all men and women aged 50 years or older were screened routinely.

Fact:The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2011 about 141,210 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the US.

Fact:The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2011 about 49,380 people died of colorectal cancer in the US.

Fact:Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer.

Fact:Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US.

Fact:Overall, 90% of new cases and 94% of deaths occur in individuals 50 and older.

Fact:Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in African American men and women.

Fact:One of the most consistently reported relationships between colon cancer risk and behavior is the protective effect of physical activity.

Fact:The goals of screening for colorectal cancer are the prevention of cancer through the detection and removal of precancerous growths and the diagnosis of cancers at an early stage.

Diseases

Gallstones

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Gallstones develop in the gallbladder when substances in bile form hard particles. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Women are at higher risk of developing gallstones than men, and the risk increases the more children a woman has had. However, the increased risk associated with having children can be offset by breastfeeding. Women who use hormone replacement therapy are also at higher risk of developing gallstones. Being overweight and rapid weight loss followed by weight gain are other risk factors for gallstones.

Diagnosis
If you are having a gallbladder attack, you will feel tenderness when the upper right side of your abdomen is touched. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin) occurs when the bile duct (a tube between the liver and gallbladder) is also blocked. If your health care provider thinks you have a gallstone, you will probably need an ultrasound. During an abdominal ultrasound, sound waves take pictures of your gallbladder. This test is painless and can be performed quickly. At Gastroenterology Consultants, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) can be used to diagnose inflammation of the gallbladder and gallstones that can block the end of the bile duct (choledocholithiasis), which can often be difficult to determine on abdominal ultrasound or CT scan.

Sometimes a malfunctioning gallbladder can lead to severe chronic pain (biliary dyskinesia) that can often be cured by surgical removal of the gallbladder. Biliary dyskinesia is usually diagnosed by a special nuclear medicine study (HIDA Scan) or by clinical history.

Treatment
If a gallstone is seen to be blocking the bile duct, it can be removed during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which is also offered at Regional Surgicenter by Gastroenterology Consultants. Often EUS and ERCP can be done in the same visit to Regional Surgicenter, allowing for an accurate diagnosis and therapy. This combined technique can avoid needless ERCP, which has higher risks, including pancreatitis, which can be quite serious.

Gallbladders that cause pain are usually removed. There are no known problems caused by living without a gallbladder. Today, most gallbladder surgeries are performed with a laparoscope. This instrument shows the surgeon pictures of your gallbladder as it is being removed. The minimally invasive procedure allows for a smaller incision and a shorter hospital stay than traditional surgery. Dr. Kishore Alapati performs this procedure on a routine basis at both Regional Surgicenter and all local hospitals in the Quad-Cities area.