News Items

ASCRS calls for increase in screening leading up to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
 
BANNOCKBURN, Ill. – The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) echoes the importance of colorectal cancer screening ahead of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March.
 
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second highest cancer death rate for men and women combined. ASCRS, Howard University Healthcare, and the National Medical Association call for an increase in colorectal screening, evaluation, and education in order to effectively diagnose colorectal cancer sooner.
 
“Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates, especially among African Americans, have been spotlighted by the recent deaths of famous actors, Chadwick Boseman and Natalie Desselle-Reid,” emphasized Dr. Neil Hyman, President of ASCRS, and Dr. Erin King-Mullins, Chair of the ASCRS Diversity Task Force. They added, “Early detection of colorectal cancer is vital to proper treatment. We urge those over 45 to contact their doctor and get screened, especially if they have symptoms or a family history of colorectal cancer.”
 
African Americans show a higher mortality rate for colorectal cancer due to late-stage diagnosis of the disease. This is a consequence of lower rates of screening and evaluation when patients first present symptoms.
 
Screening is recommended to start at age 45 for all people, and it is covered by most, if not all, health insurers.
 
Through screening, precancerous lesions and early asymptomatic cancers can be identified and addressed. There are several different modalities for colorectal cancer screening, and these include colonoscopy, stool DNA, fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), barium enema, or virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography).
 
The risks for developing colorectal cancer are increased for those with a family history of colorectal cancer or prior history of some other cancers. However, other risk factors such as obesity, high fat diets, diets low in fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and those with type 2 diabetes may be of greater significance.
 
The most common symptoms for colorectal cancer are change in bowel pattern or shape of stool that persists for several days, a continued sense of the need to pass stool, but can’t, blood from the anus, blood mixed in the stool, abdominal pain, rectal pain, weakness and or fatigue, and unintended weight loss.
 
To learn more, visit www.fascrs.org.
 
About ASCRS
The 4,000+ member American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is the premier society for colon and rectal surgeons and other surgeons dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and practice of the treatment of patients with diseases and disorders affecting the colon, rectum, and anus. Its board-certified colon and rectal surgeons complete a residency in general surgery, plus an additional year in colon and rectal surgery, and pass an intensive examination conducted by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.  For more information, visit www.fascrs.org.
 
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PSA Recordings
Each PSA describes the importance of colorectal screenings and encourages listeners to be proactive and seek colorectal cancer screening.
 
:15 second PSA: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h6k09z55ad581xe/PSA%20CRC%20Screening%2015%20seconds.wav?dl=0
 
:30 second PSA: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ttjgy56gl3fyddg/PSA%20CRC%20Screening%2030%20seconds.wav?dl=0
 
:45 second PSA: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mqgz72tpzkv4zk/PSA%20CRC%20Screening%2045%20seconds%20.wav?dl=0
 
Media Contact
Ellen Buchanan
[email protected]
240-608-4442
 

We understand that members may not have earned the Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits they planned with the cancellation of the ASCRS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting. With hopes you can satisfy your continuing education needs, DC&R  bundled 35 CME credits at a discounted price in a special collection, providing you with a savings of more than 90%. View the collection here.

This special collection of DCR/CME articles offers you the opportunity to earn up to 35 Category I CME credits. Included in the collection are ASCRS Clinical Practice Guidelines, Original Contribution articles and articles from our Resident's Corner section.

Purchase of this time-limited special collection allows you to access a select set of earlier articles and add them to your personal planner at one unique price for a limited time only.

By becoming a Fellow of the ASCRS you will be joining a group of individuals who have been members of the Society for at least two years and maintain their certification through the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. As a Fellow, your ASCRS member benefits will continue, and you will become eligible to serve in leadership positions as well as to enjoy voting rights.
 

The deadline for Fellow applications for this year is approaching. All Fellowship applications must be approved by the membership during the 2021 Annual Business Meeting held during the Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in April. In order to meet the deadline, we must receive your application no later than February 19, 2021.
 

You may apply to be a Fellow by completing and submitting the application form to [email protected]. The Fellowship application is located on our website. The Join Now section of the website includes in-depth descriptions of member benefits and reasons to maintain your active status in the Society.
 

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

There are 14 Advisory Councils of surgical specialties within the American College of Surgeons. The Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery consists of representatives from the Board of Regents and two specialty societies—American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and Colon and Rectal Program Directors Association; one representative from the Board of Governors; and two representatives from the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Within the past several years, with the support of the College’s Board of Regents, the Advisory Council has begun to serve an expanded role within the College.
 
This year over 400 session submissions were reviewed for inclusion in ACS’s 2021 Clinical Congress. The Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery submitted 12 proposals and had seven accepted. The Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery is also co-sponsors on five other sessions, resulting in 12 colon and rectal sessions at the upcoming Annual Clinical Congress.  The Advisory Council also sponsors and selects the speaker for the Abcarian Lectureship.  The colon and rectal surgery sessions are some of the best attended year over year with some sessions having more than 1,000 attendees at each meeting.  Many of the moderators, co-moderators and speakers are Fellows of ASCRS.
 
 
 
Submitted and Accepted by Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery:
 

• Colorectal Anastomotic Leaks: Prevention, Early Detection and Novel Treatments
• Pilonidal Disease: Go Big or Go Small?
• Diverticulitis: Real Life Decisions for Real Life Cases
• "I Want My Stoma Closed": Optimal Evaluation, Timing and Performance of Surgery
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Surgeons Role in the Multidisciplinary Management
• Management of Anorectal Disease
• Clostridium Difficile Colitis: What Every Surgeon Should Know

 
Co-Sponsored and Accepted Sessions:
 

• The Difficult Stoma: How to Manage and Create a Safe and Functional Stoma in Challenging Circumstances (Young Fellows)
• Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer: Watch and Wait (Young Fellows)
• Emergency Surgical Diseases of the Colon (General Surgery)
• Management of Severe Gastrointestinal Bleeding (General Surgery)
• Treatment of Rectal Cancer in the Community (Board of Governors Surgical Care Delivery Workgroup)

In light of the ongoing impact of COVID-19, travel restrictions worldwide, and concerns for the health and safety of our members and their patients, we have made the decision to hold our 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting virtually.

 

It is disappointing for all of us that we will not be meeting in person again this year. But, I am really enthused by the robust online experience we are planning for you April 24-28, 2021 under the direction of Program Chair Konstantin Umanskiy and Associate Chairs Emily Huang, Radhika Smith and Emily Steinhagen. Our team is hard at work creating an innovative program you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home or office this spring. More meeting details will be available soon on our website.

 

In light of these changes and out of respect for the financial impact that the COVID pandemic has had on many of our members, normal registration fees will be discounted 50% this year. Please feel free to read the entire news story. I respectfully urge you to register as soon as it is open to support the scientific work and educational efforts of our members and trainees. It is really important during these challenging times that we come together as a specialty, continue to promote and advance colon and rectal surgery and are there for each other. “See you” in April!

 

Sincerely,

 

Neil Hyman

ASCRS President