Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/647523
MARCH 2-8, 2016 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM March is officially dedicated as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. This has grown to be a rallying point for the community, when thousands of caregivers, patients, survivors and advocates throughout the country join together to spread colorectal cancer awareness. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined, in the United States. On average, the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in 20. In 2016, it is estimated that more than 136,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and nearly 50,000 will die from the disease. Despite these statistics, it is one of the most preventable and, if found early, most treatable forms of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, it has a 90 percent cure rate when detected early. There are more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States. Since the mid-1980s, the colon cancer survival rate has been increasing, due in part to greater awareness of screening and screening options, as well as improved treatment options Colorectal cancer usually develops slowly, over a period of 10 to 20 years. Most begin as a noncancerous growth called a polyp that develops on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. The most common kind of polyp is called an adenoma. The likelihood that an adenoma will evolve into cancer increases as it becomes larger. Colorectal cancer rates are highest in black men and women and lowest in Asian/ Pacific Islander men and women. What are the Risk Factors? Some of the risk factors for Colorectal cancer are modifiable while others are not. The non-modifiable risk factors include a personal or family history of Colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps and a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The American Gastroenterology Association and other cancer organizations recommend that some people at increased risk for Colorectal cancer because of these conditions begin screening at an earlier age. People with a first- degree relative (parent, sibling or offspring) who has had Colorectal cancer have 2 to 3 times the risk of developing the disease compared to individuals with no family history. Some of the modifiable risk factors include physical inactivity, obesity, high consumption of red and/or processed meats, smoking and moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption. What are the symptoms of Colorectal cancer? Early Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms, emphasizing the need for a screening test. Warning signs include blood in the stool or in the toilet after having a bowel movement, an abrupt change in the shape of the stool, or an urge to have a bowel movement when the bowel is empty, New onset constipation or diarrhea that lasts for more than a few days, decreased appetite, unintentional weight loss or anemia from blood loss from the cancer, causing symptoms such as excessive fatigue, can be a red flag. Timely evaluation of symptoms is essential, even for adults younger than age 50. Colonoscopy is the commonly used screening procedure to look inside the rectum and colon using a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing polyps, abnormal lining or cancer. A colonoscope is inserted through the rectum into the colon. Special tools can be used to remove polyps or tissue samples. Who needs to be screened? 1. Everyone starting at age 50 should be screened. 2. Anyone in the high risk group such as with Crohn's colitis or ulcerative colitis after a 7-year duration of disease. 3. Family history of colon cancer, ethnicity and race can put an individual in a high- risk group and make them a candidate for early colon cancer screening. 4. Talk to your doctor about the best age for screening. In addition, people can reduce their risk of developing or dying from Colorectal cancer by maintaining a healthy body weight; engaging in regular physical activity; eating a healthy, well-balanced diet; limiting alcohol consumption; and not smoking. March Is Colon Cancer Awareness Month: Get Educated by DR. KIRAN REDDY NAKKALA Kiran Reddy Nakkala, MD, MPH Up & Coming Weekly welcomes Dr. Kiran Reddy Nakkala and his family to Fayetteville. Nakkala recently joined Cape Fear Center for Digestive Diseases. From India to Tennessee to New York, Nakkala has won academic research grants and was named Resident of the Year at Maimondes Medical Center. He is an active member of several medical societies as well. His dedication to, and passion for, medicine and healing is evident in his impressive clinical and research accomplishments. A family man with two kids, when he's not working, he enjoys photography, biking and traveling. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Nakkala started his journey into the field of Medicine in 2002 at Manipal University, India where he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He earned his Master of Public Health with emphasis on Health Services Administration from East Tennessee State University in 2005 followed by an internship at the Tennessee Department of Health at Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Office In 2008, Nakkala completed post graduate training in Internal Medicine at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. He was appointed as Clinical instructor of Medicine and attending physician at Brown University, Rhode Island from 2008 to 2009. From 2009-2012, Nakkala studied at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where he completed his post-doctoral Fellowship training in Gastroenterology. He also completed Clinical Fellow in Transplant Hepatology at The Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. After completion of his fellowship, Dr. Nakkala practiced his advanced Gastroenterology skills in Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown NY for over three years. He was appointed as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and enjoyed teaching medical students and Post Graduate medical residents. Dr. Nakkala is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Some of his honors that he received during his training include, Chief Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology, Resident of the Year, Internal Medicine, Maimondes Medical Center. He is also recipient of Fellowship2Leadership unrestricted travel grant in 2011 for his academic research. He is active member of AGA, AASLD, ASGE, and ACG. His interests in Gastroenterology include Endoscopic Ultrasound examination, ERCP, Pancreaticobiliary diseases, GI bleeding, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and Luminal Stenting for benign and cancerous obstruction of the digestive system. DR. KIRAN REDDY NAKKALA, COM- MENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200.