The power of early detection: How routine colonoscopies can save lives

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 150,000 new diagnoses of colorectal cancer in 2024. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women.

Self-described over-achiever Pamela Vicik-Smith, 55, of Langhorne, Pa., never thought a colon cancer diagnosis was a near possibility until her Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic gastroenterologist, Kristin Braun, MD, discovered polyps during a recent routine colonoscopy.

“When I received the call from Dr. Braun, I was frightened and nervous,” Vicik-Smith describes. She has always prioritized her health and understood her family’s medical history which didn’t include colorectal cancer. “I was afraid of the entire process and outcome,” Vicik-Smith adds. Dr. Braun discussed the next steps for additional testing and introduced her to colorectal surgeon, Esther Cha, MD.

“I loved that she was young, used robotics and didn’t use overly technical words. Her calm nature eased my fears,” Vicik-Smith adds. She was especially comforted by Dr. Cha’s thorough explanation of the expected process, and her calmness as she assured Vicik-Smith that the likelihood of cancer in her situation was nominal.

“While most colon cancers start with a polyp, only about five percent of adenomas (polyps) are malignant,” Dr. Cha says. “The risk of a random, average-size colon polyp becoming cancerous is estimated to be eight percent over 10 years and 24 percent over 20 years.”

One month after first meeting with Dr. Cha, Vicik-Smith was scheduled for surgery to remove her polyps.

“Leading up to surgery, it’s normal for patients to feel nervous and anxious,” Dr. Cha says. “However, Pamela was also very determined to make a speedy recovery and recognized the necessity of increased mobility after surgery.”

“Dr. Cha told me that I made history at St. Mary Medical Center because I was the first patient to be released from the hospital on the same day as surgery. My husband and I both laughed when she told us because I have always been an overachiever.” – Pamela Vicik-Smith

Most colorectal surgeries require a patient to remain in the hospital for up to three days and out of work for up to eight weeks. However, due to work obligations, Vicik-Smith hoped she would be able to go home the same day and return to her job later that week.

“The hospital colleagues and I discussed instructions around pain management and recovery to help honor my need to return to work,” she says.

Throughout the recovery process, Vicik-Smith recalls experiencing minimal pain that she was able to manage with ice packs and ibuprofen during the first few days. She returned to work for a shorter four-to-five-hour shift three days after surgery and resumed her normal working hours a couple of days later. She describes the recovery process as extremely easy and was released from all restrictions after attending her final post-op appointment eight weeks later.

“Dr. Cha told me that I made history at St. Mary Medical Center because I was the first patient to be released from the hospital on the same day as surgery,” Vicik-Smith says. “My husband and I both laughed when she told us because I have always been an overachiever.”