The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 45 COVID patients today, 49 yesterday. Other significant numbers:

• 29 with the active virus today, 33 yesterday
• 7 in ICU, 6 yesterday
• 2 on a ventilator, 3 yesterday

Key points from today’s guests:

Morning Rounds – Roundup of Current News

Dr. Austin Findley, director, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, The University of Kansas Health System

• An estimated 1 in 10 women live with endometriosis.
• Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by the presence of endometrial like tissue that exists outside of the uterus.
• It's hard to get diagnosed because there's still so much that we don't know about the disease, including how and why some people even develop the disease.
• The symptoms are highly variable and can range from very mild in severity to severe and they include pain with periods, pain with intercourse, pain with urination or bowel movements, but also more vague symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, and nausea.

Focus Topic

Dr. Deepika Agarwal, Stage 4 rectal cancer survivor

• She was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer even though she had no prior family history of this.
• She underwent preoperative treatment with radiation, chemotherapy, and then underwent surgery where the cancer was cut out.
• March is Colorectal Awareness Month so she wanted to use this platform to raise awareness to anyone who is above age 45 or older, has a family history of colorectal cancer, or has any kind of GI symptoms.
• Her advice is to get screened. And for those who worry about the preparation for colonoscopy, it’s nothing compared to the chemo, radiation, surgery, and the emotional, physical, and mental turmoil the diagnosis of cancer brings with it.

Dr. Anup Kasi, medical oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

• Newest numbers from the American Cancer Society show colorectal cancer rates are dropping for a large section of the population, but not for people younger than 50.
• It's becoming a common cancer at an uncommon age.
• The potential reasons for this are multifactorial, but the big ones are lifestyle and diet.
• Pay attention to your body if you do notice acute changes in the bowel habits and changing the caliber of the stools of blood and stools -- those are red flags.
• If you do have nonspecific symptoms such as chronic constipation, then it's good to discuss with your primary care physician.
• Your doctor may order labs to see if you're anemic -- that's another red flag that there could be something serious such as colorectal cancer.

COVID Updates

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System

• Spring has officially started, but it means tick season is right around the corner.
• There are CDC recommendations for things to help reduce the chance of getting bit by ticks and that is when the diseases are spread.
• We know that they can transmit several diseases like Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
• The best prevention is to wear light colored clothes either white or light khaki so you can easily see them.
• Do tick checks and wear insecticide with DEET that is probably the best.

Wednesday, March 22 is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. It’s been three years since the pandemic broke out. We’ll talk with Dr. Lee Norman, former Kansas Health Secretary, about what we’ve learned and where we’re headed.

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