Official account for The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Mentions/retweets are views of individual users & do not represent the society.
Myth
#7
: Prophylactic surgery prevents future emergency surgery. Mostly false! Diverticulitis is not a progressive disease. Initial presentation is usually the worst. Only 4-5% of uncomplicated diverticulitis episodes have a complicated recurrence.
#uncomplicateddiverticulitis
We are saddened to announce that our immediate
@ASCRS_1
past-president Dr David Margolin passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, after a heroic battle with lung cancer. To the end, he remained a leader, friend, and master surgeon with unparalleled dedication to his patients
Myth
#5
: Diverticulitis gets worse over time. Not true! The first attack is typically the worst attack, and the risk of progression from uncomplicated disease to a surgical emergency is less than 5%. Read our practice parameters here:
Diverticulitis Myth
#4
: Surgery required after 2 attacks of uncomplicated diverticulitis. In 2018, decision for surgery based less on # of attacks & more on disease severity/pain/disability. Patients with mild symptoms can have 20+ attacks & not require surgery.
#CateredApproach
Diverticulitis Myth
#2
: Young patients (<50) need surgery after a single uncomplicated attack. Not true! Disease severity is similar for older and younger patients, and surgical decision making is the same for patients above and below the age of 50.
#AgeIsJustaNumber
Seeds, nuts & popcorn don’t cause
#diverticulitis
, nor do patients w/ diverticulosis or a history of diverticulitis need to avoid them. It's not clear why this disease happens in some, but increasing the fiber in your diet might help keep it at bay.
Myth
#1
: Nuts, seeds, and popcorn cause diverticulitis and should be avoided. False! A landmark 2008 population study found no association between nut/corn/popcorn consumption and diverticular disease, so go nuts!
Myth
#10
: Urgent surgery for perforated diverticulitis =
#colostomy
. Not true! Not all needing immediate surgery for complicated diverticulitis have colectomy w/colostomy. Stable patients w/ localized inflam./infection, primary anastomosis +/- proximal diverting stoma possible.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Surpassing both breast cancer and prostate cancer in mortality,
#colorectalcancer
is second only to lung cancer in numbers of deaths in the United States. Get more facts:
Rectal Cancer Fact
#1
: Rectal Cancer Can Be Prevented. Most Rectal Cancers come from polyps. These polyps can be removed BEFORE they turn into cancer with routine screening and early detection. Learn more about polyps:
#rectalcancer
Myth
#9
: Most people with
#diverticulitis
experience multiple attacks. False! While 80% of Americans have
#diverticulosis
by age 80, only about 15-20% experience diverticulitis. Of these, 25% experience a second recurrence of which 25% may experience additional recurrences.
Diverticulitis Myth
#3
: Antibiotics are required for diverticulitis regardless of disease severity. New studies show that patients with uncomplicated disease recover well even without antibiotics, challenging surgical dogma.
#SupportiveCareOnly
The ASCRS Mentorship Program for General Surgery Residents is currently in search of mentor and mentee applicants. This is your invitation to foster long-lasting personal and professional bonds within the specialty of
#colorectalsurgery
.
Learn more 👉
If Anastomotic Leaks keep you up and night, this episode is for you. Join
@Averywalker21
,
@BiddyDas
and
@jabelsonmd
for an honest and insightful conversation about one of the complications colorectal surgeons fear the most. Listen here:
Diverticulitis or cancer? In rare cases, diverticulitis can actually be colon cancer in disguise. The rate of occult cancer in people diagnosed with diverticulitis ranges from 2-11%. Get a colonoscopy after your first attack to be certain!
Many thanks to Program Chair of
#ASCRS24
, Alex Hawkins (
@alexhawkinsmd
), and Vice Chairs
@AtifIqbalMD
,
@EKing719
, and
@D_JafariMD
for an outstanding job putting together this meeting! Your hard work and dedication made this event a tremendous success. 👏 👏👏
#Diverticulosis
is extremely common in the Western world, affecting approximately 80% of Americans by the age of 80. Most won’t have symptoms, but 15% of patients will develop
#Diverticulitis
. This month,
@fascrs_updates
will address common myths re: Diverticular disease.
What is a seton? A seton is when a piece of material, commonly a piece of plastic, is placed through the fistula to keep it open so that it can drain well and allow the inflamed tissue to calm down before the next procedure.
We’re continuing to highlight some of the exceptional
#WomenInColorectalSurgery
and sharing their experiences in our profession. Meet
@BoutrosMarylise
! Read more about her experience here:
Congrats to ASCRS member
@gdkennedy88
on his success as president of
@UnivSurg
. We're proud to see one of our members earn such a distinguished honor.
You can support him by watching him give his Presidential Address, Finding Purpose in Academic Surgery, Feb. 4 at
#ASC2020
.
The Research Foundation of the ASCRS has a new grant to provide investigators the opportunity to research the incidence and severity of anastomotic leaks as relevant to the field of colon and rectal surgery.
Learn more:
@JoshSmithMDPhD
@FergaljFleming
Today on
#NationalCancerSurvivorsDay
, we recognized Brianna Mercker as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Local Hero Award. To learn more about Brianna and watch her inspiring journey, click here:
#ASCRS23
The findings of the recent NordICC study have called into question the benefit of screening colonoscopy in preventing colorectal cancer. It is vitally important to us to clarify the findings of the study to avoid misinterpretation.
Read here:
Myth
#8
: Diverticulitis requires hospital admission. False! Outpatient mgmt. with diet as tolerated and oral antibiotics is 3x more common than inpatient mgmt. Hospital admission indicated if the patient requires hydration, serial abdominal exams, or has failed outpatient mgmt.
We're so excited to see the tweets starting to roll in! We're just a couple days from
#ASCRS22
& can't wait to see everyone!
As a reminder, hashtags get a bit mixed up every year, which is human nature, but please remember to use
#ASCRS22
so others can follow along.
Thank you!
"I fell in love with the speciality of colon and rectal surgery because of the people." In the latest ASCRS
#YoungSurgeon
Spotlight,
@MarkSoliman
shares why he's a member of ASCRS and why he chose to specialize in
#colorectalsurgery
:
Happy International Women’s Day! On this day we celebrate all the inspiring
#WomeninColorectalSurgery
that make up ASCRS and are part of this profession. We continue working towards promoting gender equity worldwide with all our members.
#IWD2023
#EmbraceEquity
Am I too young to have a
#colonoscopy
?
For the average person, we recommend colonoscopy starting at age 45. If a close family member has been diagnosed w/ colon or rectal cancer before 60, we may recommend having your first colonoscopy at a younger age.
Having pain with bowel movements? Afraid to poop? You may have an
#analfissure
. An anal fissure is a cut or tear in the anus that extends upward into the anal canal. Check out the signs and symptoms here:
Can a seton cure a fistula? Most setons are placed loosely. If the seton is tightened over time, it can become a “cutting seton” and help cure the fistula without formal surgery. This can take more time and be more uncomfortable each time the seton is tightened.
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.
Read more here:
In order to more effectively communicate with our international audience, the Social Committee introduce
@Leo708
(Dr. Leonardo Bustamante-Lopez) to expand the comments and initiatives of International Members in Spanish and Portuguese.
#colorectalresearch
If you are a general surgery resident interested in colon and rectal surgery (CRS) or you have already started searching for a CRS fellowship, then this networking event is for you! RSVP:
Congratulations to
@TheColonClub
winner of the ASCRS 2019 Jagelman Award, accepted by Pres. Trish Lannon (
@seussfan
).This award honors the memory of Dr. David Jagelman, whose advocacy for his patients at the Cleveland Clinic is legendary.
#ASCRS19
#NationalCancerSurvivorsDay
Too young for Colorectal Cancer? Think again. CRC is on the rise in young people with recent data showing it is the leading cause of cancer death among men aged 20–49 years, with incidence rate is increasing by 1.5% every year in people under 50.
#colorectalcancerawarenessmonth
Rectal Cancer Fact
#12
: The death rate from colorectal cancer has been decreasing for several decades. One reason for this: Colorectal polyps are found more often by screening and removed before they become cancerous. Learn more about colorectal polyps:
ASCRS members: This week we are rolling out our new closed Facebook group! It is a perk of ASCRS membership, and designed to allow discussion, polls, and surgical videos. Click here to join (and don't forget to answer our 2 questions):
#ASCRS19
Did you know you were BORN with hemorrhoids? Yes, you read that right. A
#hemorrhoid
is a vascular cushion inside the anal canal and rectum. There are two types: internal and external. Learn more at or get checked at .
#AskASCRS
Did you know that colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States? In 2023, an estimated 153,020 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S — making this the second-deadliest cancer in our country.
#colorectalcancerawarenessmonth
March is
#ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth
! How are you promoting awareness of the importance of colorectal cancer screening, prevention and treatment?
Learn More:
I have
#diverticulosis
. Can I prevent
#diverticulitis
?
It’s not clear, but by maintaining a diet high in fiber and water you can potentially minimize the number and severity of diverticulitis flares. Learn more:
Polyps are growths that form when cells in the colon lining start to grow. They are not always cancerous, but if they continue to reproduce, over time they can become cancerous and spread. The only way to discover them is to get a colonoscopy. Learn more:
It can be embarrassing to approach your doctor about issues with your bottom. Just know that you are not alone!
#Hemorrhoids
are common and can be treated effectively, and it’s important to rule out more serious problems.
A.S.C.R.S. gives you the flexibility to experience the highlights of the ASCRS annual meeting from anywhere. View almost 600 video abstracts, plenary videos, a virtual exhibit hall and much more.
Save the date. This new experience launches on July 27.
Did you know that colon cancer screening begins at age 45 for average-risk individuals? If you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, your screening should be earlier. .
#ColonCancer
#ColorectalSurgery
We will be holding a celebration of life for our beloved past-president Dr David Margolin on Thursday, May 7 at 7pm CST. Please visit our website for info on how to access the event:
#Legend
#Leader
#TryYourBest
#HaveFun
#FinishStrong
Bottoms up! The cornerstone of therapy for the management of hemorrhoids is drinking plenty of fluids and eating 20-35 grams of fiber per day. In addition to fruits and vegetables, fiber supplements can help you achieve this goal.
Do you need a colonoscopy? The answer is yes if you:
• are 45+
• have had polyps before
• have a family history of colon polyps or cancer
• are anemic
• have rectal bleeding, bowel habit changes or persistent abdominal or rectal pains
More info:
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released updated rectal cancer practice guidelines. Check out the highlights of these updated recommendations here:
"I do my best to give back to the ASCRS, but I always end up receiving much more than I ever contribute." Thank you for all you do,
@seanlangenfeld
. More from Dr. Langenfeld in the ASCRS
#YoungSurgeon
Spotlight:
Rectal Cancer Fact
#4
: Not all bleeding is from hemorrhoids! If you have bleeding, see a provider. They should do an exam to look at your hemorrhoids. If they are normal, then further investigation should be undertaken. Learn more about
#hemorrhoids
:
Do you know what age should you start getting screened for
#colorectalcancer
? Many cases appear in adults under the age of 50. Last year,
@AmericanCancer
lowered the screening age to 45. Learn more about screening for colon cancer:
Next month is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Spread the word about the importance of screening! There are creative ideas and valuable resources on the ASCRS website to help you get the word out.
#colorectalcancer
#getscreened