Long wait for new scopes pays off
Ambulatory Careat VJH has just received eight new colonoscopes thanks to $275,000 raised bythe Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation (VJH Foundation) through December 2017Light-A-Bulb.
Interior Healthhas joined all the health authorities in BC to increase buying power forcertain purchases. Colonoscopes were including in this new process which took along time to work out. The result, however, is fantastic – the lower priceallowed us to purchase more scopes and get even better mileage from yourgenerous donations.
Last year, 6,387 endoscopic procedures were performed at VernonJubilee Hospital. VJH surgeons are really excited to have these new scopes to providethe best service to patients in the North Okanagan.
“Half of the patients we scope have benign polypsremoved. These are small tumours that can turn to cancer,” said Dr. HamishHwang, VJH General Surgeon. “By removingthese polyps, we prevent hundreds of people in our community from gettingcolorectal cancer every year.”
Colorectal canceris the 3rd most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancerdeaths in Canada.
Colonoscopes allownon-invasive (no incision required) procedures for surgeons to view inside aperson’s body. Scopes are specialized, flexible tubes with tiny high definitioncameras on the end. These scopes will be used to diagnose a number of differentconditions, including cancer.
During acolonoscopoe images from the camera appear on a screen where the surgeon can seeif there are any abnormalities. Manytimes, they can address problems right at the moment of discovery and takeaction to avoid any future issues for the patient. Colonoscopes give surgeonsthe information needed to take immediate life saving measures.
