Colorectal Cancer Is the Second Leading Cause of Cancer Death for Men and Women

Santa Clara County, Calif. – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) has expanded the Center for Digestive and Liver Health to help the public better protect and treat against a very deadly, but preventable form of cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women and the  third most common cancer for men and women in the United States with 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women at risk in their lifetime. More than 50,000 people die from colorectal cancer each year, yet it is one of the most preventable types of cancer. While exact reasons are still being determined, people born around 1990 have twice the risk of colon cancers and four times the risk of rectal cancer as those born around 1950.

Proactive screening with either a colonoscopy or annual stool-based test is the most effective way to test for and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies are recommended once every 10 years for adults aged 45-75, with screenings intervals after age 75 determined by a physician. These screenings are critical in locating and removing pre-cancerous polyps to reduce the cancer risk.

“While many adults are still hesitant to undergo a simple colonoscopy that is quick and painless, it can save your life,” said Dr. Nimeesh Shah, Chief, Center for Digestive and Liver Health, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. “There are also easy to use stool-based tests that can be utilized annually to detect early colorectal cancer for those unwilling to undergo a colonoscopy.”

To help promote colorectal cancer awareness, the Center for Digestive and Liver Health will be hosting a community event on Wednesday, March 13 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center campus outside Building Q. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center provided more than 2,500 colonoscopies annually with the number expected to rise as more and more people learn of their importance.
 
To better serve the community, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare has expanded the Center for Digestive and Liver Health by opening a new 4M GI Endoscopy Center with three new procedure rooms on the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) campus. In addition to three procedure rooms for outpatient endoscopies at the campus’s Valley Specialty Center, there is an SCVMC procedure room dedicated to endoscopies needing anesthesia to improve wait times, one 24/7 inpatient GI service room that will eliminate discharge delays, and one specific to high-risk outpatients requiring moderate sedation.
 
Additionally, the Center for Digestive and Liver Health diagnoses and treats the full range of digestive and liver diseases with a particular emphasis on patient education and preventative care. The center also offers subspecialized care in the areas of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Motility, Transplant Hepatology, Interventional GI and Nutrition, while performing over 6,000 diagnostic endoscopies per year.

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About Santa Clara Valley Healthcare
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH), California's second-largest County-owned health and hospital system, is comprised of three acute care hospitals, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital, along with a network of primary and specialty clinics. SCVH emphasizes quality care, research, teaching, innovation, and most importantly, a focus on coordinated, compassionate and patient-centered care for every patient. SCVH is the home for the County’s Custody Health Services department, providing medical attention to those under our care. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County, regardless of their social-economic status or ability to pay.

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