Alan Anderson

Alan got worrisome results from a Cologuard test, an at-home test that checks stool for blood or abnormal DNA that may indicate precancer or cancer.  

His doctor sent him for a colonoscopy. 

The colonoscopy found a pre-cancerous spot on the inside of Alan’s colon, right next to his appendix. “The easiest way to handle that is to take the appendix out,” Alan says. That way, the surgeon can be sure to completely remove the pre-cancerous lesion. It’s best-practice care to prevent colon cancer.  

“Appendectomy is a standard, easy surgery so I said, ‘Fine,’” Alan says. “Doctors have been taking out appendixes for a hundred years, and they have it down to a pretty good science.”  

NH+C was an easy choice: “The doctors here are well-practiced.” 

Removing an appendix is often urgent. This one wasn’t. “Since it looked just pre-cancerous and it wasn’t going very far, they accommodated my schedule,” says Alan, who opted to wait until after some events he had scheduled. 

Surgeon Ellie Cohen, MD performed laparoscopic surgery to remove the appendix and the affected area in the colon. She made three small incisions, “one for each hand and one for camera and lights,” Alan says. “Dr. Cohen made sure she got all the margins around the pre-cancerous spot before closing me up.”  

The same-day surgery “went without a hitch, and the follow-up care was excellent,” Alan says. “I don’t know how it could have been better. 

“Everyone at the hospital was absolutely fantastic,” he adds. “They answered all our questions. My wife has some medical background and she always has 20 more questions than I do, and they completely satisfied her and put her at ease.”  

Alan will have another colonoscopy in a year; if it’s clean, he’ll go back to regular screening frequency with confidence, thanks to the smooth coordination between Dr. Cohen and his primary care provider. 

His advice to others who spot trouble during a health screening? “Trust Northfield Hospital. You can go there with confidence. They have a lot of good experience, a great staff, and the facility is fantastic. 

“It sure is wonderful to have a local, capable hospital in our backyard – and people devoted to caring for our community.”