Shining light on a growing cancer 

Ryzard Zamorski knew he should have gone for a colon cancer screening urged by his doctor 14 years ago.

But like many middle-aged men, the Greenpoint, Brooklyn resident did his best to avoid it.

“I had an appointment for a screening, but I freaked out,” Zamorski, a Polish native who came to New York in 1986, recalled last week.

He never rescheduled.

But in 2020, his new medical provider, Dr. Derrick Cheung at One Brooklyn Health, began trying to persuade Zamorski to get a colonoscopy. A few months ago, Zamorski, now 63-years-old, finally agreed.

It was a life-saving recommendation.

It turned out Zamorski had 11 pre-cancerous polyps (growths) removed from his colon, including a larger one that posed a more immediate risk. “Everybody was shocked, including me,” Zamorski recalls.

“I would say that had he not had his colonoscopy, the larger ‘advanced’ polyp may have progressed to cancer in about five years or less,” explained Dr. Cheung, director of Interventional Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director in the Division of Gastroenterology at One Brooklyn Health.

OBH co-operates three Central Brooklyn legacy medical institutions: Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center, and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.

“One could probably say that it was a potentially lifesaving procedure, as it did prevent the progression of any of these polyps from becoming cancer, and reduced his risk of colon cancer significantly,” Dr. Cheung explained.

As March commemorates National Colorectal Awareness Month, Cheung and Zamorski are part an effort to educate New Yorkers about the crucial need for men and women over 45 years of age to get screened for colorectal cancer – the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

It is sometimes referred to as “the hidden cancer” because due to its silent early stages it is harder to detect without screening, making it a significant public health problem.

As the risks from colorectal cancer keep increasing, medical experts lowered the recommended age for screening from 50 to 45 years of age.

Photo by NetStruc Media

“Especially alarming is the rising death rates among individuals younger than 55, increasing by approximately 1% every year since the mid-2000s,” Dr. Cheung said. African Americans are disproportionately affected, being more likely to develop and succumb to colorectal cancer according to recent studies.

In response, OBH this month launched its education campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms associated with colorectal cancer, discussing reasons why getting screened is important, and highlighting what preventative measures are available.

“In my years of practicing Gastroenterology, I have witnessed far too many patients grappling with advanced, often incurable, colorectal cancer,” Dr. Cheung said. “I often think, if only they had undergone screening earlier, perhaps their outcomes could have been different.”

But there is also positive news. Colorectal cancer is one of the few diseases that can be prevented before it even manifests with the use of screening tools and tests. Today there are new options available for patients.

Staff of One Brooklyn Health at a recent exhibition. Photo by NetStruc Media

For example, in the past, one obstacle causing patients to avoid testing has been the singular required colonoscopy preparation process – having to drink a huge four-liter bottle of a horrible tasting liquid that helps empty the bowels.  Dr. Cheung said it is important to educate them about the new options, for example, preparations with less liquid that can be mixed with Gatorade, apple juice or ginger ale. “There’s even new bowel preps that are purely pills, so you’re not actually taking any liquid medicine.”

Still, getting a colonoscopy is the gold standard of screening because it can detect polyps and diagnose cancer but also remove the polyps. “So its therapeutic, in that I can remove pre-cancerous polyps and treat and prevent cancer his way,” he said.

A person’s genetics is also a key factor. If one has a family history of colorectal cancer, they should get screened before 45, he said.

Even as some people have no symptoms, there are some warning signs to acknowledge. “I tell my patients to just monitor their bowel movements, even though it doesn’t sound like something pleasant. Any kind of change is something that’s concerning.” New abdominal pain, feeling fatigued, or unintentional weight loss can also be red flags.

In terms of maintaining a healthy colon, a key factor is a smart diet.

“Everything should be in moderation and maintain an active lifestyle by walking or other exercises, and lots of hydration.”

The campaign is causing new people to sign up for colonoscopies.

“Publicize knowledge is really the best way to fight colon cancer,” Doctor Cheung said.

Zamorski, a swimmer, and tennis player wholeheartedly agreed.

“I knew back years ago I should get screened, but I ignored it because I presumed, ‘I don’t have any symptoms, right? So, I was fine.’ But right was actually wrong.”

And as if to validate the point of the campaign, Zamorksi, the former procrastinator, suddenly turned to his doctor and asked: “When is my next colonoscopy?”