Medical Intel

Colorectal cancer is expected to affect about 146,000 Americans in 2019. Dr. Jennifer Ayscue discusses the advanced techniques we use to diagnose and treat this disease.   TRANSCRIPT Intro: MedStar Washington Hospital Center presents Medical Intel where our healthcare team shares health and wellness insights and gives you the inside story on advances in medicine. Host: We’re speaking with Dr. Jennifer Ayscue, section director of colorectal surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Asycue. Dr. Ayscue: Thank you so much for having me. Host: We’re discussing colorectal cancer and the minimally invasive techniques now used for the procedure. Dr. Asycue, could you start by discussing what colorectal cancer is? Dr. Ayscue: So, colorectal cancer is a cancer of the large bowel or large intestine, which includes the colon, whose job is mainly to absorb water, among other things, and the rectum, which holds stool until it’s ready to be expelled. Cancer occurs when the inner lini