Our representatives are available to schedule your appointment Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.
For a Northwell ambulance, call
(833) 259-2367.
The latest
A new beginning after rectal cancer treatment
Richard Yunen is free of known cancer after rectal cancer surgery at LIJ Forest Hills
A Queens man is starting the New Year free of known cancer after receiving life-saving robotic surgery for rectal cancer at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Forest Hills.
Stomach pain caused Richard Yunen to seek medical care. A subsequent colonoscopy found that the 48-year-old Corona man had stage 2 rectal cancer.
“When they first told me what I had and what stage it was, I got depressed and thought that my life was over,” said Yunen. “There were moments when I cried, but there were also moments that I prayed.”
What is rectal cancer?
Rectal cancer is a malignant condition that occurs in the rectum, or the end of your large intestine. Abnormal, cancerous cells grow unchecked, which can potentially be fatal without treatment.
While it was stomach pain that led Yunen to seek help, rectal cancer symptoms may also include fatigue, blood in the stool, a dark stool, more frequent bowel movements, or a feeling that your bowels are not emptying. Symptoms typically occur in the later stages of the disease.
Rectal cancer treatment
Rectal cancer is treatable, especially when detected early through screening methods like a colonoscopy. Once detected, a variety of treatments are available, like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgery.
As part of his treatment plan, Yunen first received radiation and then chemotherapy at Queens Medical Associates, part of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute. After completing his treatments, Yunen underwent abdominal imaging for restaging his cancer. Imaging tests found that there was good response to treatment with not much cancer left behind.
“We had extensive discussions with the multi-disciplinary tumor board and presented the findings to Mr. Yunen. He chose to proceed with surgery to resect the tumor,” explained Sandeep Anantha, MD, director of surgical oncology at LIJ Forest Hills.
Complex cancer cases are routinely discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board consisting of multiple cancer specialists, to deliver the best care to patients and allow for new treatment options along with potential clinical trials to be considered appropriately.
Richard Yunen chose to proceed with rectal cancer surgery after consulting with Sandeep Anantha, MD.
Yunen's rectal cancer surgery
In October, Yunen underwent rectal cancer surgery performed by Dr. Anantha using the da Vinci surgical robot at the Queens community hospital.
That same month, LIJ Forest Hills was designated as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery. The hospital joins Long Island Jewish Medical Center as the only two hospitals in Queens to receive the accreditation by the Surgical Review Corporation, an independent, nonprofit, patient-safety organization and administrator of quality improvement and accreditation programs for surgeons and hospitals around the world.
“This accreditation proves that we are capable of performing complex robotic surgeries right here in Queens,” said Dr. Anantha.
Yunen’s surgery involved removing the entire rectum and a portion of the colon and then bringing the rest of the colon down to the pelvis to make a connection through which he will have bowel movements.
“Most people after rectal cancer surgery require a colostomy (stool bag), and he did not,” said Dr. Anantha. “That speaks to his strength of recovery. He spent less than four days in the hospital after his surgery.”
Robotic surgery at LIJ Forest Hills
Robotic surgeries, such as Yunen’s typically result in smaller incisions, less scarring and pain, less blood loss during surgery, shorter hospital stays and a better recovery.
LIJ Forest Hills has three da Vinci surgical robots for various general surgeries as well as bariatric, gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal and cancer surgeries. The hospital also has a Stryker Mako, which offers orthopedic patients a minimally invasive surgical alternative for total hip, total knee and partial knee replacements.
Yunen is now back to work as a youth care worker with Catholic Guardian Services, where he looks after unaccompanied and undocumented minors who are brought in through Immigration Services.
He is deemed free of known cancer and has been placed on close surveillance to check for cancer coming back.
“If it wasn’t for Dr. Anantha, I wouldn’t be here right now,” said Yunen.
Related news
LIJ Medical Center, Peconic Bay Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital to offer breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings, increasing access to range of cancer services.
If you're overdue for cancer screenings or routine care like vaccinations, here is a comprehensive guide to getting caught up on your preventive care.
chronic diseases/conditions
