Maryland’s Health Matters - St. Joseph - Fall 2016 - 8

to other abdominal Because both centers are within the University of Maryland organs] was abnormal Cancer Network, the referral process was seamless. and had suspicious excised a small frozen HEATED CHEMOTHERAPY WORKS WONDERS section of tissue from "Dr. Hanna performs a unique kind of the omentum and heated interperitoneal chemotherapy sent it to UM SJMC's called HIPEC [see sidebar on page 9]," Pathology Services says Dr. Berg. "This was an unusual for immediate analysis tumor that needed additional treatment nodules." Dr. Berg while the patient was still in the operating Nader Hanna, MD, FACS room. "I got a fast Howard Berg, MD, head of colorectal surgery at UM SJMC, with Debbie Hill, CNA, uses EPIC to record patient surgical notes. beyond the standard." Dr. Hanna is among a small number of highly experienced surgeons nationally answer that the sample to offer this advanced treatment. He has been performing was positive for it since 2004 when he established the Peritoneal Surface cancer. At that point, Malignancy Program at the UM Greenebaum Comprehen- I decided to take out sive Cancer Center. "HIPEC is an example of the exceptional all of the cancerous things we can offer through the University of Maryland Can- tissue that I could cer Network," Dr. Berg explains. find," says Dr. Berg, who has specialized in colorectal cancer surgery for more than two decades. Dr. Berg also recognized that Hamilton needed more spe- Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a technically demanding, lengthy surgery used to eradicate cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity and frequently involves removing multiple organs, cialized care to eradicate all of the cancer cells and knew that Dr. Hanna says. "In Crystal's case, this included removing her Dr. Hanna was the right specialist to take her cancer battle omentum, gallbladder and ovaries. to the next level. He referred her to his care at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. "The HIPEC portion of the procedure takes place in the operating room and involves a heated chemotherapy solution Screening Matters More than 134,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2016. Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away, so screening is important. Men and women of average risk should have their first colonoscopy at age 50 and again every 10 years, unless polyps are 8 MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS discovered, there is a family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps or other risk factors. The earlier that colorectal cancer is detected, the more treatable and beatable the disease may be. Symptoms may include: ■ Change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days ■ Feeling the need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so ■ Rectal bleeding ■ Blood in the stool, which may look dark ■ Cramping or abdominal pain ■ Weakness and fatigue ■ Unintended weight loss

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - St. Joseph - Fall 2016