Co-founder Dr. Hillary Lin recently sat down with Dr. Michael Kelso, founder of GutChek, our newest partner, to talk about the importance of colonoscopies to help prevent or reduce the severity of colorectal cancer. Watch the full conversation below.

TLDL Highlights:

Colorectal cancer stats:

• Colorectal cancer is a preventative disease
• 1 in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime
• Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths
• 90% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented

When should I get screened?

• Screening should start at 45 for healthy adults. This means you’re at average risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• People that are considered high risk should get screened even younger:
• For example if your parent, sibling, child had colon cancer, start screening 10 years before the age that person was diagnosed. So if they were diagnosed at 42, you would start screening at 32.
• If you have tested positive for Lynch syndrome, you should also get screened before age 45, and your doctor can advise you of when that should be based on your full medical history
• Fun fact, Terry Crews recently got his first colonoscopy, and he did actually have a couple of polyps that could have been cancerous. Watch more here (don’t worry, it’s not visual!). FYI, a polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon, also known as the large intestine. While most colon polyps are harmless, some can develop into colon cancer over time, so it’s best to know what’s going on inside your colon.

What does GutChek do?

• GutChek offers open access colonoscopies, which allows patients to schedule a colonoscopy without an office visit or office consultation.
• GutChek empowers people to get colonoscopies by allowing them to easily schedule their procedures, choose their doctor, and walk them through the procedure prep, step by step.

What happens if something is found during my colonoscopy?

• This was a huge pain point, up until now.
• If something abnormal was found, the doctor would refer the patient to a specialist, but there was a big gap of time where patients were lost before their next visit. They would have this information of having polyps or even cancer, but no clear next steps until the next doctor’s visit.
• Insert Curio: We’ve partnered with GutChek to help these patients, especially in this in between time. In essence we aim to solve the fragmentation of healthcare through patient empowerment and understanding.

Where can I find GutChek?

• GutChek is partnered with Decatur Morgan Hospital for open access bookings, and recently launched their second site in Charlotte, NC with Queen City Gastroenterology
• As Dr. Kelso likes to say, “book your bottom” on their app! (Apple / Android)