When Baylor Scott & White registered nurse Kyle Simpson celebrated his 45th birthday, his co-workers encouraged him to schedule his first colonoscopy.
Like many people, he hesitated, driven by anxiety over the 24-hour preparation process. He felt completely healthy, maintained an active lifestyle of strength and cardio training, and was entirely asymptomatic.
Ultimately, he listened to his colleagues and booked the appointment: a routine screening that would uncover cancer early enough to save his life.
Bypassing the waiting room
To get the procedure done, Simpson used Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco’s Direct Screen Colonoscopy program. The streamlined program stands out because it allows eligible patients to complete an online questionnaire and head straight to scheduling, bypassing the traditional specialist office visit.
“I had my colonoscopy on December 18, and the doctor called me that Friday ... to see if I could come into their office for a follow-up visit,” Simpson said. “Because I work in the health care field, [I knew] that meant they found something in my results.”
The pathology report from his colonoscopy revealed a 10-millimeter cancerous polyp.
Fast action and recovery
Simpson was referred to Dale Burleson, MD, a colorectal surgeon at the Frisco hospital, who recommended a colon resection. In January, Simpson underwent a successful three-hour robotic surgery to remove an 8-inch section of his colon and many surrounding lymph nodes.
Throughout the process, Simpson noted that his care team was incredibly attentive to his needs.
Further testing by oncology specialists determined the cancer was Stage 2, but because his molecular profiles returned completely normal, no chemotherapy was required. Today, Simpson is considered surgically cured, entirely back to his normal fitness routine, and feeling great.
A warning to others: ‘It's a silent killer’
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults at average risk begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Looking back, Simpson knows that if he had waited until the historical screening age of 50, his story would look drastically different.
“It’s a silent killer,” Simpson said. “If I had waited until I was 50, things could have grown and advanced quite a bit.”
His health care colleagues echoed the sentiment, sharing stories of friends and family who delayed screening until they had symptoms, only to find the cancer was too advanced to treat. Because colorectal cancer frequently develops without any warning signs, early detection is everything.
Who is eligible for the Direct Screen Colonoscopy program?
The Direct Screen Colonoscopy program at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco removes the roadblocks to preventive care. You may qualify for direct scheduling if you meet the following baseline criteria:
- Age: you are 45 years of age or older
- Risk: you are at average risk for colorectal cancer
- Symptoms: you are asymptomatic
- History: you have no significant personal or heavy family history of gastrointestinal diseases
Take the first step
Screening shouldn't feel like an obstacle course. If you meet the criteria above, protect your health and skip the extra paperwork.
Click here to learn more about the program and complete your online questionnaire today.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller and Community Impact's Storytelling team, with information provided solely by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco is a hospital in which physicians have an ownership or investment interest. The list of physician owners or investors is available to you upon request. We are fully licensed by the state of Texas and Medicare-certified. Our facility is also accredited by The Joint Commission. We are an affiliate of United Surgical Partners International and partner with local physicians. Physicians are members of the medical staff and are neither employees nor agents of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco, United Surgical Partners International, Baylor Scott & White Health, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.
