Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men
and women in the U.S. Faced with these daunting facts, Dr.
John Marks, Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Main Line Health and
Director of the Mirable Colorectal
Cancer Center at Lankenau wants Americans to have candid
conversations about both prevention and treatment so they are better
prepared should they or loved ones develop this common and deadly
cancer.
“Many people are talking about colorectal cancer prevention which is
great. But too few people are talking about treatment options,” says John
Marks, MD, Lankenau Medical Center, Main
Line Health. “Let’s take the stigma away from learning about treatment
so that more people aren’t afraid to talk about these problems and can
have access to the new technology and microsurgeries that can save lives
and preserve bowel function.”
Under his leadership at Lankenau, a part of Main
Line Health, 90-95% of colorectal surgeries are performed
laparoscopically. The sphincter preservation rate for this approach,
which eliminates the need for a colostomy bag, is 93% at Lankenau
vs. 40-60% for the national average.
Dr. Marks advocates that
people have their first colonoscopy screening at age 50, eat a healthy
diet, and get plenty of exercise. Traditionally for many patients with
colorectal cancer, treatment means the loss of the sphincter and the
prospect of a life with a colostomy bag. This makes people afraid
to even get checked.
Dr. Marks has set the
global standard of care for colorectal treatment. His presentation on
his approach was recently named the best session at an American College
of Surgeons meeting. Beyond the sphincter statistics, outcome data shows
the recurrence rate of cancer at Lankenau is 2.3% vs. a 10-25% national
average and the hospital’s survival rate is 88% compared to 68%
nationally.
About Dr. Marks
Dr. Marks is a graduate of
Yale University and Thomas Jefferson Medical School where he also
interned, completed his surgical residency, and completed his colorectal
fellowship. He did an advanced minimally invasive fellowship at the
University of Nice, France.
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Main Line Health Doc Urges Conversation About Cancer Prevention and Treatment During Colorectal Health Month
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