For one local woman, a routine colonoscopy helped stop colon cancer in its tracks

Smart Screening

At 77, Ruth Crumb is a picture of good health. She works part-time as a government contractor, walks four miles most days of the week and enjoys traveling with friends to dog shows. But if it hadn’t been for a routine colonoscopy, Crumb says she might not be as healthy and active as she is today.

Five years ago, when Crumb went to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital for a colonoscopy, her gastroenterologist, R. Allen Blosser, MD, removed several benign polyps and suggested she come back for a follow-up test in five years. Crumb followed her doctor’s recommendation, and she’s glad she did. The colonoscopy, done last January, detected a cancerous mass that required immediate surgery. Because Crumb followed up on time, the cancer was caught early.

“Colorectal cancer is a highly preventable and treatable cancer if caught early,” says Dr. Blosser. “For Ms. Crumb, we were able to pick up a potential malignancy at a very curable stage.”

The National Cancer Institute recommends that individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer begin regular screenings at age 50, with follow-up tests every 10 years. Doctors may recommend screenings at an earlier age or more frequently if patients have a personal history of colon cancer, precancerous polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, or if they have a family history of colon cancer.

Perfect Timing for Tumor Removal

For Crumb, the next step was to have the cancer surgically removed. Dr. Blosser arranged for her to see Lynda Dougherty, MD, a colorectal surgeon at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. Dr. Dougherty performed minimally invasive robotic surgery to remove the tumor.

“Fortunately, it was a very early cancer,” says Dr. Dougherty. “Had she waited five or 10 years, that would have been too long.”

To rule out additional tumors, Dr. Dougherty ordered a full-body scan. The test revealed a tumor in Crumb’s right lung, which was subsequently removed. Although the tumor was unrelated to her colon cancer, Crumb attributes her current good health to routine screenings.

“I am so thankful for where I am today,” she says. “None of this would have been discovered if I hadn’t had a routine colonoscopy.”

 Our G.I. Treatment Gets High Marks

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital recently received a “high-performing” ranking in gastroenterology & GI surgery by U.S. News & World Report, in addition to recognition as one of the best hospitals in the DC Metro Area and Virginia.

“One of the things that we at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital should be very proud of is recognition for GI services,” says Dr. Blosser. “The award was based on a multitude of factors including outstanding care from the nursing staff, our ability to perform challenging procedures, our enormous success rate in performing colonoscopies, our exceedingly low complication rates and our ability to see patients in a timely fashion.”

Get Screened

To set up an appointment for colorectal cancer screening at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, call 703.391.3696.