Dr. Vrees’ Patient on Colorectal Cancer Screening: I Didn’t Think a Year Would Make a Difference

While the overall colorectal cancer rates are down, they have consistently gone up among younger patients.

That’s why the guidelines have recently been changed to begin screening at 45 instead of 50.

Christine Coffey of Warwick knows firsthand what can happen when you delay screening. She had her first colonoscopy at 51, only to find out she had colorectal cancer.

Brown Surgical Associates’ Dr. Matthew Vrees had to remove about a foot-and-a-half of Christine’s colon. And, because the cancer was detected in her lymph nodes, she faces several months of chemotherapy.

Both Dr. Vrees and Christine discussed with Channel 10’s Barbara Morse the importance of screening and what can happen if you put it off. Watch the full story here »