One of the most rewarding aspects of being a gastroenterologist, says Shannon Tosounian, DO, is knowing that she saves lives by identifying and removing cancerous and precancerous growths within the colon.

For this reason, she is passionate about promoting colorectal screening to identify colorectal cancer at its earliest, most preventable stage.

Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer for both men and women in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer death. Fortunately, it has a cure rate that exceeds 80%, and even higher when caught early.

Dr. Tosounian of St. Luke’s Gastroenterology sees patients in the Palmerton office and performs colonoscopies at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus. Because of increasing numbers of younger people diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force in May 2021 revised its colorectal screening cancer guidelines.

It reduced the recommended age of the first screening by five years, requiring insurers to cover colorectal screening beginning at 45.

“Someone born in 1990 is estimated to have twice the risk of colon cancer in their lifetime than someone born in 1950, and a four-time increased risk of developing rectal cancer,” Dr. Tosounian said. “That’s a pretty staggering statistic.”

According to the American Cancer Society, about 12% of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50. Rates have increased since the mid-1980s in adults 20-39 years and since the mid-1990s in adults ages 40-54, with the younger age groups experiencing the steepest increase.

Experts speculate today’s more sedentary lifestyles and increased consumption of processed food may be causing the increase in colorectal cancer in younger people, she said. However, there’s another contributing factor.

The guidelines also recommend that the first-degree relatives - children, siblings and parents - of someone diagnosed with colorectal cancer begin screening 10 years earlier than their relative’s age at diagnosis. If your father was diagnosed at 50, you should start screening at 40.

The effectiveness of screening campaigns to inform people about the family connection and warning signs has also contributed to earlier diagnosis, she said.

Warning signs include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Many patients do not have any signs so it’s important to have routine screening.

During a colonoscopy, the most comprehensive screening method, Dr. Tosounian uses a long flexible tube equipped with a tiny camera to see inside the colon and remove small clumps of cells called polyps, which could develop into cancer. She takes samples of abnormal growths. A pathologist then examines them for the presence of cancer.

St. Luke’s gastroenterologists use an innovative device called Endocuff Vision, which flattens the folds in the colon, enabling physicians to find hidden polyps, she explained.

Endocuff Vision contributes to St. Luke’s exceptionally high polyp detection rates as compared with national quality benchmarks. In addition, due to St. Luke’s excellent physicians, colonoscopies at St. Luke’s have lower complications rates compared with other hospitals throughout the country.

Other screening methods include at-home methods that use stool samples to identify blood or DNA markers to indicate cancer might be present. Should a patient have a positive result, they would need a colonoscopy.

Besides screening, Dr. Tosounian provides comprehensive gastroenterological services, treating acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcers.

“Gastroenterology has always fascinated me because of the GI system’s interconnectedness,” she said. “It involves the entire digestive system from the mouth to the anus. It is one long, complex, interesting tube that gives our body life by allowing appropriate nutrition to enter our body. It also incorporates the liver, the gallbladder and the pancreas.

“I also love the long-term relationships I establish with patients because many GI diseases are chronic. Also, it’s nice to have a career in medicine where you can be stimulated with patient care, but also get to do procedures.”

Dr. Tosounian was attracted to St. Luke’s after talking with gastroenterologist Kimberly Chaput, DO, an alumna of Dr. Tosounian’s residency program.

“I knew immediately St. Luke’s was the place for me,” Dr. Tosounian said. “Everyone here is so kind, whether interacting with patients or one another. Everyone wants to work together for the benefit of the patient.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tosounian, contact St. Luke’s Gastroenterology at 484-526-6545.