*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2020 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Monday, October 26, 2020, at 8:00 am EDT.
P0598 COVID Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Onset CRC in Two Patients
Author Insight from Jannel Lee-Allen, MD, MUP, Wayne State University
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
While Colorectal cancer in people age 50 years and older has been declining annually by 2-3% in the last approximately 15 years, the exact opposite is true for early onset Colorectal cancer (diagnosis before the age of 50 years old); it has been rising at an annual rate of at least 2% since 1994, according to American Cancer Society’s Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2017-2019 (Table 1). In addition, it’s incidence has been further highlighted by the recent death of prominent, African American actor, Chadwick Boseman. As Gastroenterologists, we have a duty to educate the public and our fellow clinicians of this early CRC phenomenon, provide guidelines to avoid diagnostic delays and dispel the myths that endoscopic evaluation is not warranted or not safe during the era of COVID.
What do patients need to know?
Patients should have confidence that in response to COVID19 hospitals have put many safety protocols in place to ensure safety at all points of the medical community. If you are having symptoms of unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal pain, bloody stools, change in bowel appearance or frequency you need to see your doctor right away as this requires a full work up, including the possibility of colonoscopy. Do not delay for fear COVID.
Author Contacts
Jannel Lee-Allen, MD, MUP & Bashar Mohamad, MD, Wayne State University
jleealle [at] med [dot] wayne [dot] edu
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