Key points from today’s guests:

Tiffany Kessler, colorectal cancer survivor

• As a young mom, a non-smoker, and a vegetarian, she thought her symptoms were more about Crohn’s diseases or a common GI issue. She never thought it might be cancer.
• After more than a year of the symptoms, she got a colonoscopy that revealed cancer and sought specialists at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
• She had radiation and chemotherapy first to shrink the tumor down before surgery. This was done because tumors that are removed first have a 33 percent recurrence rate. Starting with radiation and chemotherapy first results in a 3 percent recurrence rate.
• She encourages others to be advocates for their own health. If something doesn’t feel right, continue to push for answers.
• She is now cancer-free and is able to live life with modified daily habits.

Dr. John Ashcraft, division chief, colon and rectal surgery, The University of Kansas Health System

• Our patient average just for the inpatients right now is 43 years old. That was unheard of years ago. When I started my practice, we would see 60-70 year-olds and that was kind of our average.
• For young people, it can be difficult to diagnose. Nine out of 10 times, the primary care doctor will say it’s hemorrhoids, which is very common in young females.
• I wish they lowered the recommended colonoscopy age to 40, but going from 50 to 45 does help.
• We don't know why patients like Tiffany are showing up younger and younger. We talked about microbiomes, we talked about environmental factors, we talked about processed foods. We don’t know and we need to figure it out.
• We also need to address racial disparities. African Americans are 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 40 percent more likely to die of it.

Dr. Mazin Al-Kasspooles, surgical oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

• We're seeing more and more young people with these with colorectal cancers.
• We never saw people in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s with this when I was in training.
• This seems to be more of an environmental cause and not genetic. There's no way over a decade or two that genetics has changed so much that you see this kind of rise.
• Every week we have a tumor board and that tumor board is multidisciplinary. We have every group represented and we discuss patients like Tiffany to make sure we are considering all angles and added expertise to provide the best treatment.
• Be really well attuned with your body. When you recognize symptoms persisting, take them seriously.

Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 8 a.m. is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. Genetic tests are changing health care and doctors aren't the only experts who should read your results. On the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites, we show you the science behind genetic counselors and how their niche expertise can help prevent misdiagnosis.

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