Colon screenings may help detect cancer early

Getting regular colon screenings, such as a colonoscopy, may help find polyps and cancer early, when they are most treatable. When polyps and cancer are found early, there may be more options for treatment too. During your colonoscopy, you'll receive anesthesia before the colonoscope — a long, flexible tube containing a small camera — is inserted into your colon. This camera helps your doctor find polyps. We also offer CT colonoscopy and fecal tests. 

These screenings aren't just for finding cancer. Our goal is to stop it before it starts. While not all polyps are cancerous, they can become cancerous in the future. That’s why it's important to identify, and sometimes remove, polyps. We recommend men and women get their first colonoscopy at age 45. You may need to get a colonoscopy earlier if you have a personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer, or if you have symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort 
• Change in bowel habits 
• Rectal bleeding 
• Unexplained weight loss
  

Your primary care doctor can talk to you about getting a colonoscopy. 

Compassionate care for colorectal cancers

Colon and rectal cancers are among the most common types of cancer for both men and women. If you have been diagnosed with a colorectal cancer, our care team is dedicated to caring for you. From screenings and diagnosis, to treatment and recovery — we are with you every step of the way.

We deliver advanced care for all types of colorectal cancers, including: 

• Anal cancer 
• Appendix cancer 
• Colon cancer 
• Rectal cancer 
• Small bowel cancer
  

Changing the way we provide care
Ascension is changing the way we provide care, but with the same compassionate care you've come to expect. 

Options for your care

Balancing care with caution

Compassionate care means safe care. At Ascension St. Vincent, we are committed to keeping you safe while you’re receiving care in our hospitals, clinics and facilities. We have strict safety precautions in place — such as staggering appointments, rearranging waiting rooms, and performing rigorous procedures to clean and disinfect. Don’t delay getting the care you need at this time. We are fully prepared for your safety when you're in our care.

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Our facilities are currently taking precautions to help keep patients and visitors safe, which may include conducting screenings, restricting visitors and practicing distancing for compassionate, safe care. We continuously monitor COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and adjust our safety practices and safeguards accordingly.

Benefits of our approach to cancer care

If cancer is detected during your colonoscopy or colon screening, we will connect you with our colorectal cancer program. Your oncologist will work with you and your care team to create a treatment plan that is right for you. Depending on your type and stage of cancer, your treatment plan may include minimally invasive surgery, cancer medications, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other types of cancer treatments.

Team dedicated to tumor care: If you need tumor care, we have a multidisciplinary team of specialists who work together to help find the best possible way to treat your tumor.

Experienced surgical teams: Using advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive robotic surgery, our teams can remove cancer while saving healthy tissue.

Compassionate medical oncology: We work together with our medical oncologists to deliver medication therapies that are right for you, and close to home at convenient locations.

Precision radiation therapy: Our experienced radiation oncologists use innovative technology to help accurately deliver radiation therapy such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which precisely delivers radiation to tumors, minimizing damage to healthy tissue; and hypofractionation, which delivers higher doses of radiation at each session so patients complete their treatment sooner. Imaging such as PET, CT, and MRI are used to help make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that's right for you.

Genetic cancer testing and counseling: If you are at high risk or have a family history of cancer, we provide cancer genetic testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for certain types of cancer.

Support services and programs: Nurse navigators follow you through your cancer journey and are here to help answer your questions and provide any guidance you may need. Our cancer support services are available to both patients and caregivers from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and recovery. This includes support groups, art therapy, yoga and meditation, nutrition education, financial counselors and spiritual care, for a more complete approach to cancer care.

Get a second opinion at Ascension St. Vincent

There’s a lot to think about when you’re facing a cancer diagnosis and deciding on a treatment plan. Getting a second opinion not only provides more information about your condition, but it may also increase your confidence in your care plan. Ask if a virtual care (e.g, telehealth or online) visit is an option for your second opinion consultation.

Meet our GI care team

We know that being diagnosed with cancer can leave you with a lot of questions and uncertainty. Our care team is here to listen and answer your questions. And when you choose Ascension St. Vincent for your cancer care, you get a multispecialty team of doctors, colorectal surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, interventional radiologists, gastroenterologists, genetic counselors, dietitians, and nurse navigators — all dedicated to your care.

Accredited cancer care at Ascension St. Vincent

Ascension St. Vincent cancer centers are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This requires our cancer programs to meet strict standards for quality, patient care and services offered, while continuously improving cancer services for our patients.

Refer a patient to a specialist

Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our specialists start by listening to fully understand their needs and to develop an individualized care plan. To make a doctor referral, please call.

86th Street office: 317-415-6582
Carmel: 317-582-8950
Anderson: 765-609-6063