Dr. Michael Santoro is a Board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist, who is in clincal practice in Southern California. He did his medical school training at the SUNY-Health and Science Center in Brooklyn. He completed a three-year internal medicine residency at Staton Island University Hospital. This was followed by a three-year fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Loma Linda University.
Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Colon polyps are fleshy growths that occur on the inside (the
lining) of the large intestine, also known as the colon. Polyps in
the colon are extremely common, and their incidence increases as
individuals get older. It is estimated that 50% of the people over
the age of 60 will harbor at least one polyp. The significance of
polyps is that we know that when certain types of polyps grow large
enough, they can become cancerous, and, moreover, colon cancer is the
second leading cause of death from cancer in the United Sates.
Therefore, screening for colon polyps and removing them before they
become cancerous should markedly reduce the incidence of colon cancer.
The polyps that become cancerous are called adenomatous polyps or
adenomas. Adenomas account for approximately 75% of all colon
polyps. There are several subtypes of adenoma that differ primarily
in the way the cells of the polyp are assembled when they are
examined under the microscope. Thus, there are tubular, villous, or
tubulo-villous adenomas. Villous adenomas are the most likely to
become cancerous, and tubular adenomas are the least likely.
Another factor that contributes to a polyp's likelihood of
becoming cancerous is its size. The larger a polyp grows, the more
likely it is to become cancerous. Once a polyp reaches two
centimeters or approximately one inch in size, the risk of cancer is
in excess of 20 percent. Therefore, it is advisable to remove polyps
of any size, preferably when they are of a small size, to prevent
their growth and progression to cancer.
Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon is referred to as colitis. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Gardners' syndrome, or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is an inherited condition in which cancer of the colon and rectum develop. Colon polyps and growths may develop as early as the teens. If these polyps are not removed, they will become cancerous. There are different inheritance patterns for familial adenomatous polyposis.
Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests
are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
Rectal bleeding (known medically as hematochezia) refers to the passage of red blood from the anus, often
mixed with stools and/or
blood clots. (It is
called rectal bleeding because the rectum lies immediately above the anus, and although the bleeding indeed may be coming from the rectum, as discussed later,
it also may be coming from other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.) The
severity of rectal bleeding (i.e., the quantity of blood that is passed) varies widely.
Most episodes of rectal bleeding are mild and stop on their own. Many patients report only passing a few drops of fresh blood that turns
the toilet water pink or observing spots of blood on the tissue paper. Others may
report brief passage of a spoonful or two of blood. Generally, mild rectal
bleeding can be evaluated and treated in the doctor's office without
hospitalization or the need for urgent diagnosis and treatment.