Thanking my doctor for proper care at GBMC

No one wants to discuss their colonoscopy because no one looks forward to – or back, really – after the notoriously benign but very necessary procedure. Nestor welcomes his favorite gastroenterologist Dr. Dhanush Hoskere of GBMC to thank him for removing pre-cancerous polyps during his recent colonoscopy, which might’ve saved his life. This is your friendly warning and advice and some gentle humor to keep cancer away with proper care and medical guidance. Your peace of mind will thank you!

Nestor Aparicio discusses his experience with Dr. Dhanush Hoskere at GBMC after a colonoscopy at age 57, highlighting the importance of early detection for colon cancer, which is the third most common cancer in the U.S. Dr. Hoskere emphasizes starting colonoscopies at age 45, or earlier if there’s a family history, and notes a 50% increase in colon cancer under age 50. Nestor shares his relief at finding a precancerous polyp and the painless procedure. Dr. Hoskere advises lifestyle changes to prevent colon cancer, including a low-fat diet, increased fiber, reduced alcohol, and exercise. Nestor plans to promote colonoscopies and healthy habits on his radio show.

• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Invite and host Dr. Dhanush Hoskere on the Baltimore Positive show at least once per year to educate listeners about colon health and screening
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Present crab cakes to the GBMC care team that treated you as a public thank-you for their care
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Inform your primary care physician at your next appointment that you completed a colonoscopy and confirm follow-up schedule (next colonoscopy in seven years unless otherwise advised)
• [ ] Provide and schedule eligible patients through GBMC gastroenterology’s fast-track colonoscopy path so they can be seen and booked efficiently for screening

Nestor Aparicio’s Introduction and Upcoming Events

• Nestor Aparicio welcomes listeners to WNST AM 1570, Towson, Baltimore, and mentions the Maryland crab cake tour dates at Costas, Dundalk, and Missoni.
• He discusses plans to honor Dan Rogers for the 1966 show at Gertrude, supported by the mayor’s lottery and GBMC.
• Nestor mentions giving away scratch-offs and thanks GBMC for their support.
• He introduces Dr. Dhanush Hoskere, who was involved in his recent colonoscopy, and expresses gratitude for the procedure.

Nestor’s Experience with Colonoscopy

• Nestor shares his experience of getting a colonoscopy at age 57, which he should have done earlier.
• He describes the process as less painful than expected and mentions using the experience for his comedy routine.
• Nestor thanks Dr. Hoskere, Greg at GBMC, and his wife for encouraging him to get the colonoscopy.
• He acknowledges that the procedure might have saved his life and expresses gratitude.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere on Colon Cancer Prevention

• Dr. Hoskere emphasizes the importance of colon cancer prevention, as it is the third most common cancer and cause of cancer-related deaths.
• He explains that colon cancer is now prevalent in younger populations, with a 50% increase under the age of 50.
• Dr. Hoskere discusses the reasons for colon cancer, including lifestyle and genetic factors.
• He stresses the importance of regular colonoscopies starting at age 45 or earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer.

Nestor’s Reflection on Colonoscopy and Health

• Nestor reflects on his reluctance to get a colonoscopy and the psychological impact of finding a precancerous polyp.
• He mentions the positive response from his audience and the importance of taking health seriously.
• Dr. Hoskere explains the process of finding pre-cancerous polyps and their potential to become cancerous if left untreated.
• Nestor shares his experience of the procedure being pain-free and the importance of planning and preparation.

Importance of Early Detection and Lifestyle Changes

• Dr. Hoskere discusses the importance of early detection and the role of lifestyle changes in preventing colon cancer.
• He mentions the APC gene and its role in the development of pre-cancerous polyps.
• Nestor talks about his dietary habits and the importance of eating foods that agree with him.
• Dr. Hoskere advises on lifestyle modifications to prevent acid reflux and other gut issues.

Nestor’s Gratitude and Final Thoughts

• Nestor expresses gratitude to Dr. Hoskere and the GBMC team for their care and support.
• He shares a personal story about a nurse at GBMC who was a fan of his radio show, making him feel at home.
• Nestor emphasizes the importance of getting a colonoscopy and the peace of mind it provides.
• Dr. Hoskere provides information on fast-track colonoscopy paths and the importance of discussing family history with primary care doctors.

Healthy Lifestyle and Preventive Measures

• Dr. Hoskere advises on healthy lifestyle changes to prevent colon cancer, including a low-fat diet, increased fiber, reduced alcohol, and exercise.
• Nestor shares his commitment to a healthy diet and the importance of feeling good.
• Dr. Hoskere reiterates the importance of regular colonoscopies and early detection.
• Nestor thanks Dr. Hoskere and the GBMC team for their ongoing support and education.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

colonoscopy, colon cancer, GBMC, Dr. Dhanush Hoskere, precancerous polyp, men’s health, family history, lifestyle modifications, low fat diet, fiber intake, alcohol reduction, exercise, primary care, gastroenterology, Baltimore positive

8

SPEAKERS

Nestor Aparicio, Dr. Dhanush Hoskere

Nestor Aparicio  00:01

Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T AM, 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore, positive, positively, getting through the winter months here. And we’re going to get in the Maryland crab cake tour back out. We have some dates. We’re going to be at Costas and Dundalk. We have a new location at missones, my friend Greg, Missoni and his daughter over in Perry Hall. And we’re also hoping to get back down to the BMA to honor Dan Rogers for the 1966 show at Gertrude. I’ll have some dates on that soon. It’s all brought to you by our friends at the mayor the lottery. I’ll have some scratch offs to give away for that, as well as our partners at GBMC. And when I picked this up the last time with dr is scary. Who was the person who was involved in my colonoscopy about 90 days ago? I’ve let this thing get through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, into the new year, through the blizzard, through the Super Bowl to take a breather and bring Dr askary back on in the aftermath of of my colonoscopy at age 57 way on, I should have listened to me years ago when I did these segments all the time. I’m gonna let Dr ask scary. First things first, pick it up. Thank you for dealing with me. And I am not a good patient. I did not come to you in a very good circumstance that day. I didn’t take well to sort of starving myself so much. But that being said, the process of the drink and all of that, people told me it was going to be a lot worse than it was. I mean, it really, you told me, Hey, prepare for the worst. Prepare, you know, prepare for the best. Think this through. But I thought parts of it were almost comedic that I’m going to use for my comedy routine later on, but for the serious part of it, thank you. That’s all I can say to you. Christine, everybody that got me involved, Greg at GBMC, because I don’t know that I would have done this without any of you, and you may have saved my life back in November, Doc, so thank you.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  01:55

Yeah. I mean, no that. I mean, it was a pleasure having you over there, Nestor. And you know, again, thank you for having me on this show. And you know, that’s what we do, like we always want to try to prevent colon cancer for, you know, everybody, because it is the third most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer related deaths in the, you know, in the country. So it’s something that is, you know, very near and dear to my heart, and something that we definitely always want to you know, just keep our eyes out, out for especially because it’s something that can be prevented.

Nestor Aparicio  02:29

8

Okay, so I reach a lot of men. I reach a lot of men’s wives. So I reach a lot of humans here. What we do fear, right? I mean, for me, it’s also like I felt young until I wasn’t anymore, and I don’t feel young anymore, but I did segments on this and PSA number and all sorts of men’s health issues that are forced, first and foremost at Super Bowls all these years, obviously reaching a male and sports audience here for 35 years. I’ve talked about it so many times, and I don’t know what possessed me over the top, my wife for years saying, You got to get in. You got to get in. Tell everybody about how weird it is for me at 57 and I finally got pushed into doing it, and in the moments of waking up when you told me I was at risk, right? I was don’t be too mean to me, but I was kind of foolish waiting as long as I was I, because I definitely feel that way. I need you to spank me.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  03:25

Doc, no, I think you’re been a little too hard on yourself, Nestor. I mean, you know, our general recommendations are starting colonoscopies at age 45 because actually, one thing that they’ve seen is, you know, the amount of colon cancer under the age of 50 has increased by close to about 50% or so. So it’s not just like an older person thing now, it’s also like a younger person thing, and we’re seeing a lot of colon cancer in the younger population. And you know, there are so many reasons, so many lifestyle factors, genetic factors, things along those lines. But you know, the other thing is, Nestor, like, you know, if it’s out of out of sight, out of mind, if it’s not something that you’re seeing, you know, seeing every day, then you’re not going to think too much about colon cancer, or, you know, anything like that. And no one, you know, no one out there is thinking that this is going to happen to me. But you know, that’s why, you know, we have these recommendations, and that’s why we’re aggressive about bringing people in for their colonoscopies and making sure that, you know, we take care of things for them so they don’t. That’s something that they don’t have to worry about down the line.

Nestor Aparicio  04:33

Doctor scary with Doctor tanousha Scary is over at gbmcs, right around the corner, here to help you out, talk me through all of this on the air. We literally did this on the air last year to try to get me to get an appointment. Relax, figure out when the appointment was going to be. Time it out, make it so I had recovery time and all the things we did, and I took it upon myself to travel today. Day before. So I would not eat. I would not think about eating. I did not have any problem with the soft food. I actually thought the little concoction was like a nice strawberry banana thing. It did not. It wasn’t nearly as awful as all of it was, until such point where I needed to get in and see you and and it is. It’s a little less than pleasant prior to but then there’s the part afterward that everybody told me about that would be a bit celebratory, but in the meantime, I thought I was fine. I thought I would be the perfect patient and all that. I wasn’t any of that. But more than that, precancerous polyp, what? Let’s talk about this, because it scared me, sort of scared my wife, a little bit scared my audience, which probably wasn’t the worst thing, by the way, people like me, Doc, it was like the number one viewed thing in all the fall you know, me in sort of disrepair in the aftermath of this. But part of it for me was psychological. To say, Oh my this is as serious as I’ve made it out to be on the radio of the last 20 years, that I could have come and seen you under the wrong circumstances, instead of something that was planned, thought about, you know, worked through, and now I’m here to talk about it on the other end, to say that precancerous polyp, that’s not what I wanted to hear in the aftermath.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  06:20

Doc, yeah. I mean, so that’s, that’s why we bring people in, so that we can find these pre cancerous polyps before they become anything worse. And that’s the thing, when you have these pre cancerous polyps, a lot of the times, you know, especially when they’re small, you’re not going to have, you know, any symptoms or anything like that at all. And you know, usually what happens is, you have a certain gene, you know, the just for your reference, you know there’s, there’s a gene called the APC gene, and it once it, there’s a two once it gets hit in two different places. Then it turns into, like a little crypt focus. And these epithelial cells, or the cells on the lining of your colon, start to, you know, multiply. And it multiplies really, really fast, and the cells are not dying. The to counterbalance it, the cells are not dying at the appropriate rate. So you have these cells that are over growing, and then they turn into that pre cancerous polyps that you have. And then, you know, if that stays in your colon for about 10 years or so, then there’s a potential chance that that can become cancer over time, but, you know, but that’s why you know you came for your colonoscopy, because we went in there, we found it, we removed it.

8

Nestor Aparicio  07:43

And you know, this was a pain free procedure, let me say too, like the most pain that I experienced was the discomfort of just having everything in my stomach disappear, but also just a PICC line, like, literally, and I hate needles, but like, from a pain perspective afterward, I expected to be really uncomfortable the day or two or three or five afterward, it was there was nothing like that at all. And I do think it’s a different kind of procedure than maybe the ones your parents maybe told you about 20 or 30 years ago. In regard to what you need to go through, it needs to be planned. You need to be smart about it. But and I felt like I was as best I could be, being the sissy that I am, an awful patient that I am, and I apologize again, doctor, scary, because I’m a terrible patient. Oh, my God, I’m an embarrassed I mean, it took me 90 days to get the nerve to ask you to come on. And finally, thank you, because I but, but in all sincerity, the notion that when it’s over with, there is peace of mind, and there’s that knucklehead feeling I had the first week or two of should have gotten in there and done that. I’m glad it didn’t cost me. Thank you very much for being a part of this. I want to present that to other folks to say, what would be that demarcation for them to want? 45 and over? I’m clean now and I’m seven years, I don’t see you for seven years.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  09:02

Correct? About seven years? Yeah, you don’t see me for another seven years,

Nestor Aparicio  09:06

64 it’s like the Beatles song. You know, I’m going to be 64 when I see you. But for anybody, give them the procedure for what they should do, primary doctor, see you at GBMC. Schedule it because it was very easily done for me, once I got in touch with your office, on email and on my my chart and all the things that I did, I think modern medicine, you don’t have to sit in waiting rooms for the you know what I mean, this can be done very easily and safely for folks, yeah?

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  09:36

8

So, I mean, I guess first I’ll just start off with, you know, yeah, for the general population, you know, we start at 45 for colon cancer screening. So you know that is when you can come for your colonoscopy. However, if you have any family history of people with colon cancer, then that may actually be earlier. That may actually end up being 40 so. So, you know, talk about that with your primary care doctor. And you know, if you do qualify for that. So if you have a first degree relative with the that had had a history of colon cancer, you know, over the age of 60, or under the age of 60, you may qualify for starting your colon colonoscopy at age 40, even if they had a, you know, an advanced adenoma, like, pretty much a pre cancerous polyp that was more advanced that, actually, you know, also is potentially an indication for doing an earlier colonoscopy too. So, so you’re not

Nestor Aparicio  10:36

worried about me seven years even though what I had, I’m good for now. I’m not higher risk.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  10:42

No, you’re okay for now. That’s why you came. You got your colonoscopy. We can, you know, do your colonoscopy again in seven years. But I think the main thing is, you know, speaking with your primary doctor. So when you speak with your primary doctor, gonna, like, let them know your family history, you ask them, once you’re around that age range, about getting the colonoscopy done. Then you know, you know, my office can get you scheduled for the colonoscopy at GBMC. And then, you know, for the in terms of the procedure, it’s just as Nestor, as you were saying, Nestor, that you know, the night before you’re going to be drinking, you know, an a lot of fluid, essentially. And then

Nestor Aparicio  11:24

I found a really nice cherry Gatorade product that’s white, that’s clear, always. I’ve actually gotten it since it was delicious electrolytes, you know. So it wasn’t that terrible, you know,

8

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  11:36

as long as it’s not a red a red liquid, then we’re good for the most part.

Nestor Aparicio  11:41

I read all the rules five times. Believe me, I was very concerned. Dr, scary. He is a gastrointernologist. I can’t I can’t even, you know, thank God for smart people out there. But you can find him gastro enterology at GBMC. And I’ve had you on talking about acid reflux and other things that are in the space of the gut and where you are. And, you know, I’m a little crazy about oatmeal and wild blueberries and trying to eat the right things and trying to take really good care of myself from a from a gut standpoint. I mean, I had a mistake the other night, Valentine’s night, my wife and I went out and spicy foods just aren’t great for me, and I ordered something that was too spicy. In the old days, I might have eaten it and taken it on. Instead, I gave it back to the kitchen and just said, I I don’t want that for my for how it makes me feel. And I think in a general sense, as I’ve gotten older, when I eat things that don’t make me feel good, it’s probably not a good idea that I eat them, and that’s sort of my gut check. Number one rule is saying, if that doesn’t make you feel good, doesn’t agree with you, find out what doesn’t agree with you. But I know you do all sorts of things in regard to when people come to you in discomfort because maybe of what they’ve eaten, maybe they haven’t figured it out, and you’re on that pathway to trying to make people feel better in their gut, yeah.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  13:12

I mean, you know in terms of that, yeah. So, I mean, we, we do. I think the most important thing is, you know that history, the history from the person. What are their symptoms? You know, where is their pain? Are they having heartburn? You know? What is making their pain better or worse? I think that’s the most important thing that guides us towards how we’re going to work them up. But in terms of, you know, foods and things like that, you know, if something is not agreeing with you, that’s one of the things that we generally do say. So we do generally have, especially for heartburn or regurgitation, we have these triggers. And you know, I usually go over these with my patients. So they’re things like tomato sauce, mint chocolate, spicy food, citrus food, greasy food. And you know, I want them to generally have some type of a food diary, so that they’re going over their symptoms, and they’re figuring out, okay, I ate this and I noticed that I had, you know, symptoms, you know, when I when I had this. And you know, a lot of people think, Okay, I have heartburn. I need to take medication. But a lot the first step is actually a lot of these lifestyle modifications that you can do, avoid the things that are not you know that are, you know, giving you that irritation, or may increase your risk of having like this acid reflux, and that you know that that itself may do you wonders in terms of improving your acid reflux, and then afterwards, you know, then we talk about medications and things like that. If things are not going well from that lifestyle standpoint, well,

Nestor Aparicio  14:52

8

I just want to thank you publicly on the show on the air. If I run around in town and see you somewhere in Towson, I would thank you out as well. For taking great care of me. Everybody at GBMC, from the minute I walked in, I was a little sick when I got there. People held my hand. Made me feel great. The nurses i i owe them all some crab cakes. And I promised, through Greg and them and the folks over GBMC, I got to get the whole team that took good care of me. And I wound up. And this was the true story. I wound up my wife was with me just trying to keep an eye on me, because I kept an eye on her back in the day, when she was in the hospital a lot, and I woke up and the doctor, or not, the doctor, the charge nurse that was there, said to me that he was a big fan of our radio show and loved the Orioles and the Ravens and listened to Luke. So I felt like I was all in the family when I was at GBMC there for I was only with you a couple of hours. I know he stirred things up in your department a little bit there. I apologize for that, but I am just I’m a terrible patient, but I’m probably a really good spokesperson for this, right? I mean, because it wasn’t that bad, get your colonoscopy if you’re out there, Doc, tell them. Tell them why. Tell them how.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  16:01

All right, yeah. So, I mean, you know, give, give GBMC a call, give our gastroenterology department a call. And you know, what you guys can do is there’s actually a fast track colonoscopy path that you can do so as as long as you know, you’re generally like a healthy person, and you know you’re due for your colonoscopy. It’s some and don’t have many other symptoms. It’s something that we can actually fast track for you guys. You get scheduled, and then, you know, we see you for the procedure. So you did

Nestor Aparicio  16:37

that with me. I have my primary next month to go in and I can actually say to doctors, say, Hey, have a colonoscopy. I’m good, you know? I mean, it’s one less thing on the checklist for a guy my age that worries about such things, but is afraid of you’re a doctor. I’m afraid of you. You know that, Doc, you know you’re all friendly and all, but we’re all afraid of you. We are.

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  17:00

No, I mean, I think that that’s what it is. You know, you you came, you did whatever you had to do. And you know, that’s, you know, we’re, we’re proud of you,

8

Nestor Aparicio  17:10

Nestor, and I’m here to celebrate. I’m here to celebrate, and when I do my little bucket list thing next month and take my picture where I’m taking it, I’ll know that you helped me get there and kept me safe. Dr Dinesh has scary is here. It’s H, O, S, K, E, R, E, you can find him out at Baltimore positive. He came on last year and told me about all these things that I needed to do. He’s also there for acid reflux and all sorts of gut issues, and certainly there for some great advice and some great care if you need him. And the whole GBMC team right here, right here in Towson, Maryland, right around the corner, and all sorts of places around the county as well. To help you out. Did I get it all in? Doc? I want to make sure I got all this the right way, because I don’t need six years and nine months. I got it. But I’m going to have you on at least once a year to educate everybody and let them know that maybe we can save someone else out there from a lot of trouble and a lot of pain and just stay, staying, staying healthy. It’s the most important thing we can do, right?

Dr. Dhanush Hoskere  18:06

Definitely, yeah, I guess the only other thing that I do want to mention is the one of the things that we can all do, you know, to modify our risk for, you know, developing these polyps and, you know, developing colon cancer is actually, you know, a low fat diet, increasing the fiber in your diet, you know, reducing the amount of alcohol, you know, cutting out smoking and then exercising. Those are some of the, you know, just general, basic things. These are just like general, like healthy things that we think of in the first place. But, you know, these are things that are also going to help us, you know, prevent colon cancer for us in the future. So, you know, that’s the one other thing that I wanted to leave everybody with as

Nestor Aparicio  18:48

well they see me eating all this good food out of my little tastiness tour. But I promise you, there’s a ton of oats and wild Maine blueberries in my diet every single morning. So I’m always trying to think, to not overeat, make sure what I’m doing. And really, just from my own stomach perspective, just feeling good. No one likes to feel bad. And so Dr askeri, is there his whole team of folks over GBMC, if you are having any issues of health, we try to educate folks. And even once in a while, I show this much courage to get myself in there to get a procedure done that certainly could have saved my life six months ago. So my thanks to Doctor is carrying the entire GBMC team as part of our educational series here that’s ongoing, talking about all sorts of things that keep us healthier and make us happier and keep us living a little bit longer as well. Right here in the land of pleasant living at GBMC, I am Nestor. We are W NST am 1570 Towson, Baltimore, and we never stop talking Baltimore positive and your good health.