HEALTHCARE UPDATE: Comprehensive GI Care Close to Home

Gone are the days of waiting months or having to travel out of town to take care of digestive health issues or get regular screenings done. The GI Center of WCCH is equipped with personable, professional and skilled staff, cutting-edge technology and the availability necessary to provide turnkey, quality GI care to Sulphur and the surrounding communities.

The GI Center of WCCH offers everything from upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures to anti-reflux surgery and hernia surgery. “We offer local patients a significant advantage,” says Dr. Matthew Ayo, general surgeon at WCCH. “Having advanced, high-quality healthcare close to home eliminates the need to travel to cities like Houston or Baton Rouge, ensuring our community gets the right treatment and excellent outcomes.”

The surgical team — who has over 75 years of combined experience — agrees that patient satisfaction is the number one priority of the group.
“As a group, we care about the overall patient experience, not just the surgery itself,” says Dr. Devin Seale, general surgeon and member of the WCCH medical staff. “From start to finish, we want to make sure patients are happy with our office, happy with our staff and happy with their care. It comes back to enjoying what we do and enjoying taking care of people in our community.”

The team at the GI Center can typically see patients within weeks of a referral — a huge plus to those who may have delayed care. Patients can expect to be seen and scheduled for a scope or surgery (if necessary) in less than a month.

Not only is the Center efficient, they cater to a wide variety of cases and situations, handling a full list of GI and surgical services:
• Upper GI Endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Colorectal Surgery
• Hernia Repair
• Anti-Reflux Surgery

The GI Center of WCCH is located within West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, at 701 Cypress Street in Sulphur. To schedule a GI evaluation or learn more about services offered, call 337-527-6363 or visit www.wcch.com/gicare

Talk to your doctor about a GI screening if you are:
• 45 years or older
• Have family history or are at high risk for colorectal cancer
• Experiencing digestive issues such as trouble swallowing, pain or cramping, changes in bowel habits or unexplained weight loss

One Patient’s Story of Early Detection at the GI Center of WCCH

Early detection can be the difference between life and loss when it comes to colon cancer. At her regular annual exam when Jessica Douga was 47, her doctor, Dr. Marne Devillier with Maplewood Family Medicine Clinic, recommended she have her first screening colonoscopy. The age for the first screening had just been lowered the year before by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

That routine screening at the GI Center of WCCH in 2023 turned into a lifesaving decision when a tumor was discovered in her colon. Just a few weeks later, Douga had one foot of her colon along with that tumor removed by Dr. Ayo, the same physician who originally diagnosed her cancer. She says she was impressed by everything about her hospital experience. “I got the good news that my cancer had not spread, and I could not have asked for better care – from doctors to nurses and everyone else who provided care.”

Douga had a smooth recovery after surgery, and because it was detected early, at Stage 1, she did not require any additional cancer treatment. “Another blessing from the early diagnosis was finding out that I have genetic markers for that type of cancer and will be closely monitored,” says Douga. “And as a result, my adult children are aware of their risk now, and more alert for warning signs and will begin screenings at a younger age.”

Colon cancer is often initially asymptomatic, which is why screening and early detection are critical. “While colon cancer typically is diagnosed in patients who are in their 60s and 70s, we’re seeing an increase in younger patients. Over the past 25 years, colon cancer rates have doubled in patients younger than 55,” says Dr. Ayo. “This is why the recommended screening age was lowered.”

Colon cancer often develops silently, without symptoms, making regular screenings critical for staying ahead of the disease. The colonoscopy is considered the gold standard test because it is the most sensitive to determine if polyps are present. Polyps are small growths within the colon and are the precursors for colon cancer. If allowed to go unchecked, polyps have a 10 – 40 percent chance of turning into cancer, depending on their pathology. Thanks to sedation, colonoscopies are painless, and most people don’t remember anything about the procedure.

“I’m grateful to my doctor for advising me to have a colonoscopy, and to the surgeons and healthcare team who cared for me at the GI Center of WCCH,” says Douga. “I hope by sharing my experience, others will be encouraged to prioritize their health and take that potentially life-saving step toward early detection.”