>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, COULD A RISE IN GAS PRICES BE JUST THE BEGINNING?

WHY INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS COULD LEAD TO MORE INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING HERE IN OUR AREA.

LAST CALL FOR BETTER HEALTH.

WHY DITCHING ALCOHOL IS JUST ONE OF THE LIFE CHANGES ANYONE CAN MAKE TO LIMIT THEIR CHANCE OF PARTICULAR CANCERS AND PROVIDING EXTRA CARE TO PATIENTS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE NEW FACILITY THAT LOOKS TO INCREASE ORTHOPEDIC CARE THROUGHOUT LEE COUNTY.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THE WAR IN IRAN COSTING YOU MORE MONEY AT THE GAS PUMP.

GAS PRICES SOARING ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE.

AAA SAYS YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY AT LEAST $3 AND $0.72 FOR ONE GALLON OF REGULAR GAS WITH PREMIUM GAS CLOSER TO 5 BUCKS A GALLON, YOU'LL FIND SOME OF THE HIGHEST PRICES IN THE STATE IN HENDRY AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

EXPERTS SAY THIS STEEP HIKE IN GAS PRICES DUE TO THE ONGOING WAR IN IRAN WITH NO IMMEDIATE END IN SIGHT.

FOR MORE ON THE SURGE OF INFLATION AND THE IMPACT THAT IT IS HAVING ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY DOCTOR VICTOR CLAAR, A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS HERE AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY.

AND YOU JUST WALKED ACROSS FROM THE LEFT.

KURT BUSINESS SCHOOL TO JOIN US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

DID GREAT TO BE HERE.

IT'S IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERTISE ON WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

AS FAR AS THE ROOT CAUSE OF INFLATION, WE'RE SEEING GAS PRICES REALLY ALMOST AT THE LEVEL THEY WERE AROUND THE PANDEMIC TIME.

I KNOW ALMOST 5 BUCKS A GALLON FOR FOR PREMIUM.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW FAR ARE DOLLARS STRETCHING RIGHT NOW.

CAN YOU TOUCH ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF THE THE CAUSE OF THIS?

>> AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FACING A RELENTLESS ONSLAUGHT OF INFLATION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC JUST FROM 2020, ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO NOW SEEMS LIKE DISTANT MEMORIES.

BUT IT WAS A VERY REAL PRICES ROSE JUST FROM 2020 TO 2025 ALONE BY ABOUT 25%.

AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK ME AND MOST AMERICANS HAVE NOT RECEIVED A 25% INCREASE IN THEIR PAY.

AND IF THEY DID, THAT WOULD JUST HELP THEM CATCH UP.

KNOW, I KNOW INFLATION RATES HAVE BEEN BETTER LATELY, BUT INFLATION ALWAYS PUNISHES WORKING CLASS PEOPLE THE MOST BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT HIT THEM THE HARDEST FOOD PRICES AND OIL PRICES AND AND AND SHELTER PRICES.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY BIG SHARE OF THEIR BUDGET.

THOSE TEND TO BE THE THINGS THAT INCREASE THE MOST DEFINITELY INCREASED THE MOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A BREAK.

I KNOW INFLATION RATES ARE LOWER.

NOW ABOUT 2 AND A HALF, 2.6% BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP.

SOMETIMES THERE'S THIS LIE.

WE TELL OURSELVES THAT WHEN INFLATION IS NOT AS BIG AS IT WAS LAST YEAR THAT WE'RE DOING BETTER.

BUT IT'S A LITTLE LIKE IF YOU'VE BEEN GAINING WEIGHT, MAYBE A 10 POUNDS A YEAR AND THEN ONE YEAR, AN AMAZING THING HAPPENS.

YOU ONLY GAIN A PASS.

YOU'RE STILL NOT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PRICES.

THAT'S A GREAT ANALOGY.

AND WE ALSO OBVIOUSLY HAVE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> WITH THE WAR AND THE IMPACT THAT IS HAVING.

>> AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR 2?

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS SHAPING UP AS FAR AS INFLATION?

>> AND EVEN THE CPI, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASING.

>> OIL PRICES ARE ESPECIALLY TOUGH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF OIL READY TO GO AT ANY GIVEN INSTANT.

NORMALLY IT TAKES ABOUT 6 WEEKS FOR NEWLY EXPECTED OIL TO BE REFINED INTO A CONSUMER PRODUCT, WHETHER IT'S JET FUEL OR GASOLINE AT YOUR LOCAL YOUR LOCAL GAS STATION.

THAT'S A LONG LAG.

SO IT'S HARD TO MAKE MORE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU SEE UPWARD PRICE PRICE PRESSURE REALLY QUICKLY IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THE OTHER REASON IS THAT MOST OF US WE HAVE THE SAME CARS AND THE SAME COMMUTES AND THE SAME DISTANCES TO SCHOOL AND TO WORK.

AND SO WHEN PRICES RISE, IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN AFFORD TO CUT BACK VERY MUCH.

SO WHEN YOU GOT AN INFLEXIBLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND BY AMERICANS, THAT'S ALSO PRETTY INFLEXIBLE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET TO THE PLACES THEY HAVE TO GO.

THEN YOU SEE REALLY RAPID INCREASES IN PRICES.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH WELL, HOW LONG DO YOU PROJECT OR SEE?

WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, BUT HOW LONG DO YOU FORESEE THIS?

>> PRICE HIKE IN GAS.

>> CONTINUING A LOT OF ANALYSTS ENVISION 2 POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.

ONE IS THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, MAYBE 2 OR 3 WEEKS, THE WHITE HOUSE CHANGES ITS POSTURE ON IRAN AND DECIDES NOT TO BE AS COMMITTED TO ITS INVOLVEMENT AS IT HAS BEEN DURING THE RUN-UP TO 2 TO THE END OF MARCH.

IF WE SEE THAT WILL SEE HIGHER PRICES MAY BE OIL PRICES THAT ARE STILL ABOVE $100 A BARREL, BUT NOT MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

WE MAY SEE CONSUMER PRICES YEAR TO YEAR THAT ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND 2 AND A HALF TO 3%.

THE OTHER SCENARIO THAT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS SEE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE STAY IN IRAN FOR THE LONGER TERM, MAYBE LATE INTO 2026 OR EVEN INTO EARLY 2027.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE COULD SEE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL.

GOT $100, BUT MAYBE $140 OR $150 AND PERSISTENT CONSUMER INFLATION.

THAT IS NOT 2 AND A HALF PERCENT OR 2%.

MAYBE 4% OR EVEN HIGHER.

STILL.

>> WE WERE DISCUSSING THE CPI, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

THIS IMPACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THAT WOULD BE INCREASING.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA?

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

YOU KNOW, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS A MONTHLY SURVEY OF THE PRICES THAT REAL AMERICANS PAY FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY PURCHASE MOST FREQUENTLY.

>> SO IT'S A BASKET AND IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT CONSUMERS BUY.

BUT IT'S THE THINGS THAT THEY TYPICALLY BUY IN A GIVEN MONTH.

AND SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THINKS THAT'S A NICE WAY TO MEASURE CONSISTENTLY FROM ONE MONTH TO THE NEXT.

WHAT THE REAL COST IS OF THINGS LIKE GAS, FOOD, SHELTER, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THERE INCLUDED.

AND THEY'RE THE MOST BASIC THINGS THAT A TYPICAL FAMILY BUYS IN A MONTH.

>> SO IF THAT INCREASES IN CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

WE'VE GOT TO TIGHTEN ALL OF OUR BELTS.

>> YEAH, THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS ABOUT THE CPI IS IT IS A VERY REALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT A TYPICAL FAMILY BISON A MONTH.

SO IT'S WEIGHTED ACCORDINGLY FOR MOST OF US, OUR BIGGEST BILLIE SHELTER, WHETHER IT'S OUR RENT OR MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

THAT'S HER BIGGEST BILL.

AFTER THAT.

THINGS LIKE FOOD AND GAS ARE SECOND AND 3RD.

DEPENDING ON WHICH WHICH YEAR IT IS AND WHAT THE WAY TO THE BASKET ARE LIKE.

BUT THE WAY TO THE BASKET FOR THE CPI, THEY'RE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT ACTUAL CONSUMER BUYING PATTERNS ARE.

SO IF THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOES UP A LOT.

SO DOES THE CPI AND YOU SEE THAT REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT THE SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASE RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S A BIG SHARE OF EVERY AMERICAN'S BUDGET.

AND BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE BASICS, FOOD, IF YOU WILL, AND AND AND THE ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT PUNISH ALL AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY WORKING CLASS AMERICANS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THEIR MAIN BILLS AND THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIT IN OTHER THINGS AROUND THOSE 3 BIG THINGS.

>> WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT?

HOW CAN THEY BEST HANDLE THIS AND PLANNED FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TIGHTER BUDGETS OVER THE NEXT.

>> COMING MONTHS.

SO GETTING TO WORK AND NOT GETTING EVICTED AND HAVING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

THOSE ARE EVERY FAMILY'S FOREMOST CONCERN.

SO WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR BUDGET FOR EVERY MONTH, YOU NEED TO THINK FIRST ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE BOXES.

CHECK AND WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FOR THOSE THINGS.

ONLY AFTER THAT.

SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE ANY MONEY THAT'S LEFT IN YOUR BUDGET AFTER YOU'VE TAKEN CARE OF THOSE 3 BIG THINGS, ONLY THEN SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO WITH OTHER MONEY THAT'S LEFT OVER.

SO BE LASER FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOUR FAMILY ALIVE.

AND IN GOOD SHAPE FROM ONE MONTH TO THE NEXT WELL, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE FOR THE SHIRT SHORT TERM AND NOT THE LONG HAUL.

>> YEAH, BUT AT THIS POINT, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD A LOT.

A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS OR SO BECAUSE OF TARIFFS.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR BUSINESSES TO MAKE PLANS INTO THE FUTURE.

AND IT'S HARD FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES TO MAKE PLANS.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY WE DON'T KNOW WHICH GOODS WILL BE TARIFFED.

HOW HOW MUCH THE TARIFFS WILL BE AGAINST DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

AND NOW WE HAVE EVEN MORE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE WAR THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT SEE COMING AND WITH AN UNCERTAIN ENDING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR INSIGHT AND PROVIDING I THINK SOME HOPE FOR CURRENT TIMES.

WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH.

I THINK A LOT RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING AND AND THE PRICES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS INSIGHT.

>> THE WELCOME.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

NOW.

>> WE'LL GET YOU AGAIN SOON.

YOU'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, RIGHT ACROSS THE PARKING LOT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR.

CLARK, THANK YOU.

AND BE SURE TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

FOR A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, DOCTORS ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN COLORECTAL CANCER CASES.

THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO LIMIT YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING THE DISEASE.

>> WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT ALCOHOL IS A PERCENTAGE AND PLAYING FOOTBALL BUT SAY THAT IT WAS THIS STRONGLY LINKED TO COLORECTAL CANCER THINK WAS REALLY NOTEWORTHY FOR SURE TO SEE A 91% INCREASE IN THE RISK OF COLON CANCER.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ARE HEAVY DRINKERS COMPARED TO WHO ARE, YOU LOW-LEVEL DRINKERS CERTAINLY IS IS IF IT IS A BIG DEAL IN SAVANNAH, YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

>> LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 150,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER.

NOW RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT HEAVY ALCOHOL USE CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN A PERSON'S RISK FOR THE DISEASE.

ALCOHOL HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DAMAGE DNA SALES AND CAN ALTER THE GUT MICROBIOME.

DOCTORS SAY IF YOU ARE PREDISPOSED TO DEVELOPING COLORECTAL CANCER, YOU ARE ADVISED TO STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL.

HOWEVER, ALCOHOL IS JUST ONE RISK FACTOR.

>> ALCOHOL AS FAR AS A RISK FACTOR FOR LIKE A CANCER IS DEFINITELY A WAY OUT THERE.

I WOULD SAY.

MAYBE RED MEAT CONSUMPTION AND PROCESSED MEATS MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN TERMS OF CANCER.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO WORK ON.

CUTTING OW.

IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THE SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES LIKE CHEW SAYS SO DOES.

I'M ALSO ARE ONES TO TRY TO LEMONADE.

>> GRIM NUMBERS SHOW AN ESTIMATED 52,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO DIE THIS YEAR FROM COLOR.

CANCER WGC USE.

TEDDY BYRNE TALKED WITH ONE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO LEARN WHAT LIFE CHANGES WE CAN MAKE TO REDUCE OUR RISK OF GETTING THE DISEASE.

>> SO AS PART OF OUR LOOK INTO COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE ARE JOINED BY DR ALEXEI NOVIKOV, A CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY DR.

NOVAKHOV.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GOOD MORNING.

>> SO NOW THE NATIONAL CANCER SOCIETY REPORTS THAT OVER 50,000 AMERICANS DIED FROM COLORECTAL CANCER LAST YEAR.

SO WHY IS THIS SUCH A SERIOUS DIAGNOSIS?

>> CARTHEL CANCER IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NATIONAL HEADLINES BECAUSE RECENTLY WE FOUND OUT THAT A COLORFUL CANCER WHILE MORE FREQUENT IN OLDER POPULATION HAS BEEN INCREASING DISPROPORTIONATELY IN INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN SIDE OF THE AGE OF 50.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE UNLIKE MANY OTHER CANCERS, CLINICAL CANCER HAS A CLEARLY CAN BE PREVENTED BY DOING SCREENING FOR COLORECTAL CANCER.

AND SO I THINK RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET SCREENED IS EXTRAORDINARY.

IMPORTANT FOREVER WITH ESPECIALLY FOR DOCTORS WHO TREAT AND DEAL WITH THIS CONDITION EVERY SINGLE DAY LIKE ME.

>> AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'RE SEEING IT MORE AND MORE IN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

IS THAT SOMETHING NOW WITH BECAUSE OF BETTER SCREENING WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING CANCER, OR IS THIS JUST KIND OF SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING MAYBE WITH DIETS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE LEADING TO THAT SYMPTOMS OF COLORECTAL CANCER BEGINNING IN AN EARLIER AGE.

>> THAT IS A REALLY INSIGHTFUL INSIGHTFUL POINT TO MAKE.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE JUST TAKING DOING A BETTER JOB, LOOKING FOR IT.

BUT MOST LIKELY IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

AND I THINK THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT THE YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP COLORECTAL CANCER FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

IT'S GOOD.

THERE'S MULTIPLE DIFFERENT THEORIES AT THIS POINT OUT THERE.

SOME PEOPLE BLAME MICROPLASTIC.

SOME PEOPLE BLAME CHANGES IN THE MICROBIOME.

THERE'S DEFINITELY OBESITY THAT MAY WELL BE PLAYING A ROLE.

AND SO TO FLOOD PROMOTING SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION.

AND AT THAT CERTAINLY AND HELPING.

IN THE PROMINENTLY IN THE INDIAN.

COULD JENNY PROCESS.

BUT I THINK YOU'LL IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OF REASONS WHY YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET CLINICAL CANCER AT THIS POINT IN 2026.

>> AND THEN YOU'RE SAYING TO THAT NOW, TREATMENT OPTIONS HAVE ADVANCED AS WELL.

SO I GUESS THERE'S BETTER PROGNOSIS FOR PEOPLE THAT END UP.

DO.

BECOMING HAVING COLORECTAL CANCER.

>> YES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF LIKE TALK ABOUT COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

NUMBER, WHAT CALLER, ACTOR CANCER IS PREVENTABLE.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET SCREENED FOR COLORECTAL CANCER AND COLONOSCOPIES.

ONE OF THEM COLONOSCOPY PROBABLY IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS BECAUSE COLONOSCOPY ALLOWS YOU TO BOTH LOOK FOR PRECANCEROUS CONDITIONS, POLYPS AND REMOVE THEM WITH THE SAME TIME.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESISTANT COLONOSCOPY AND THERE IS A VARIETY OF OTHER TESTS, INCLUDING A VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CALL, NOT GRAFFITI, SAYS HE'S KEEN BASED TEST.

THERE IS A A NUMBER OF SCHOOL-BASED TESTS AND ALL OF THESE TESTS EXIST AND CAN BE DONE.

AND SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE BEST PREVENTION THE IS IS THAT IF YOU NEED TO GET SCREENED, IF YOU CAN, AND THE BEST SCREENING TEST THAT YOU CAN GET IS THE ONE THAT YOU WILL WILL BE WILLING TO DO.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER 2.

COLORADO CANCER EASE TREATABLE.

AND EARLIER WE DETECT CLINICAL CANCER.

BETTER TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AND BETTER.

THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE TREATMENTS ARE AS THE DESK OF BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL DESK.

THIS THAT CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR ABILITY TO MOVE LARGE PRECANCEROUS POLYPS HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY THE PAST 20 YEARS.

AT THIS POINT, WE CAN END THIS COP A CLEAR MOVE EARLY CANCERS AS WELL.

AND I THINK IN THAT SENSE, IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MANY MAY BE SOME OPTIONS, I THINK INTERVENTIONAL THAT WHAT WE CAN OFFER AS INTERNATIONAL DESK OF THIS HAS REALLY GOTTEN WAY BETTER EVEN COMPARED TO ABOUT 5, MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE REPLACING WHO LEFT THE SURGEONS WHO WORK WITH CLERICAL SURGEON'S VERY CLOSELY BECAUSE FOR A VAST MAJORITY OF INVASIVE ADENOCARCINOMA US COLORFUL CANCERS OUT THERE.

SURGERY WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY.

BUT THESE THINGS ARE ADDRESSED.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THESE CASES TOGETHER AS A TEAM WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE AND RADIOLOGISTS EVERY SINGLE WEEK, ANY DURING OUR WILL TO DISPLAY TO REPORTS.

SO I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.

THEY NEED TO GET SCREENED AND B, EVEN IF WE FIND SOMETHING, IT IS BETTER TO FIND SOMETHING SOONER THAN LATER.

>> AND THEN YOU MENTIONED COLONOSCOPIES AND ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ALWAYS FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE AGE OF 40 TO START CONSIDERING THEM.

BUT NOW IF PEOPLE HAVE MORE OF A FAMILY HISTORY OR PREDISPOSITION TO THIS, SHOULD THEY GET THEM EARLIER?

AND THEN HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO SAY DOING AN AT-HOME TESTS LIKE A COLIN GUARD WHERE INSTEAD OF HAVING A MORE INVASIVE PROCEDURE DONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION USED TO BE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND STARTING COLONOSCOPY, TWEEN COLUMBUS, THE AGE OF 50 RECENTLY ABOUT 5, 4, YEARS AGO.

THE GUIDELINES HAVE CHANGED AND THAT WE AND WE RECOMMEND STARTING COLONOSCOPY.

IT'S BEING CALLED US COULD BE AT THE AGE OF 45 FOR MOST PEOPLE.

NO.

THE THE THIS OF THAT IS CERTAINLY A RECOMMENDATION APPLIES TO I'M HEALTHY AMERICANS, BUT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WEISE, PRE-EXISTING PREDISPOSING, MEDICAL CONDITIONS SUCH HAVING A FUN THING ABOUT DISEASE OR HAVING MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH CLARK OF CANCER.

WE'RE AT THAT RULED DOESN'T QUITE APPLY.

AND YOU HAVE TO START SPITTING EVEN EARLIER DEPENDING ON WHICHEVER CONDITION YOU HAVE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CURRENT RECOMMENDATION IS TO START COLONOSCOPIES AT THE AGE OF 45.

IN REGARD TO WHICH DOES IS THE BETTER TEST.

THEY SORT OF SAID THAT EARLIER.

THE BEST TEST IS THE ONE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO UNDERGO COLONOSCOPIES THE BEST.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO FIND AND REMOVE PUBLIC'S RIGHT AWAY BUT SAY FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT UNDERGO COOLEST BE FOR MEDICAL REASONS OR WHO ARE RESISTANT.

A COLONOSCOPY?

I LAGARDE OR OFF HE COULD MEAN A CHEMISTRY TEST IF IT IS ALSO A GOOD ALTERNATIVE.

AND THAT TEST ALLOWS YOU TO KINDA LOOK AND SEE.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT TELLS YOU IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD UNDERGO COLONOSCOPY.

SO A POSITIVE COLDER TEST DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU NECESSARILY HAVE SOMETHING PRECANCEROUS OR CANCEROUS IN YOUR INTESTINES.

IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD UNDERGO COLONOSCOPY AND IT IS A EASIER TEST TO UNDERGO BECAUSE HE CAN DO AND THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOUSE.

BUT IT IS ALSO HARD TO TEST THE SENSE THAT IT A POSITIVE RESULT JUST LEADS TO HAVING TO THE COLONOSCOPY ANYWAY.

SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE HOW THESE THINGS WORK RIGHT NOW.

AND OF COURSE, CALL A GUARD.

AND IF IT ARE NOT BE THE GOOD TEST FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE HIGH-RISK PREDISPOSING CONDITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PRECANCEROUS POLYPS BEFORE THE RIGHT TEST FOR YOU IS GOING TO BE COLONOSCOPY AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A COLOR GUARD.

COLOGUARD IS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE AVERAGE RISK FOR COLON CANCER.

>> SO THEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO KIND OF MAYBE OFFSET THE SYMPTOMS OR DO ANYTHING TO DELAY THE PROCESS OF THAT, IS THERE ANY STEPS PEOPLE CAN TAKE?

IS IT JUST DIET AND EXERCISE?

ARE THERE OTHER METHODS PEOPLE CAN DO TO HELP?

YOU KNOW, REDUCED THEIR RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER.

>> SO WE KNOW THE CLARK OF CANCERS ASSOCIATED WITH NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE KNOW IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY, SMOKING ALCOHOL USE.

AND SO CERTAINLY NOT SMOKING DRINKING IN LOSING WEIGHT WOULD IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF NOT DEVELOPING CLINICAL CANCER.

YES, WE DO KNOW THAT THE CONSUMPTION OF HIGH FIBER DIET AND GENERALLY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WOULD ALSO BE WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO PAUSE AND CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CHANCES OF DEVELOPING COLORECTAL CANCER.

SO BUT I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD BE THAT THESE ARE VERY BROAD RECOMMENDATIONS I WOULD MAKE IN REGARD TO THE LIFESTYLE CHOICE.

>> WELL, THEN FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS, ARE THERE ANY RESOURCES YOU CAN SUGGEST FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER?

>> YOU CAN GO.

SO, YOU AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAS RESOURCES.

YOU CAN GO TO THE G I SOCIETIES AMERICAN GUESTS TO DISCUSS ASSOCIATION.

I'M ERIC SAID THE BIGGEST CONTEST GLENN DOSS COULD BE.

THEY WILL HAVE ONLINE PRESENCE WITH MULTIPLE RESOURCES AVAILABLE HOPE FOR FOLKS WHO WANTS TO.

READ AND LEARN MORE.

I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT IS GOING TO YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE, GEE, I SYMPTOMS SUCH AS ANEMIA.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BLOOD IN THE STOOL.

IF YOU HAVE WEIGHT LOSS, IF YOU HAVE A DOMINO PING, THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT SHOULD BE HAD.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS HAVE I'VE HEARD SOME THINGS.

SOME PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY'RE TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A COLONOSCOPY OR THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT READY FOR A COLONOSCOPY DESPITE HAVING SYMPTOMS.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, IF YOU ALERT YOU, IF WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CANCER OR PRECANCEROUS CONDITIONS, THE BEST OFTEN THE BEST PLACE TO START.

THE IS YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR WHO CAN APPROPRIATELY ASSESS YOUR SYMPTOMS AND REFER YOU TO A SPECIALIST IF NECESSARY.

I WOULD SAY THAT.

>> WELL, DOCTOR, NICOLE, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE HEALTH RELATED STORIES, YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT WGC.

YOU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, IT'S THE LATEST EXPANSION EFFORT.

FAIRLY HEALTH.

HOW THE NEW FORT MYERS HOSPITAL WILL HELP MORE PATIENTS WHO NEED ORTHOPEDIC HAIRCUT.

FORT MYERS, NEWEST HOSPITAL IS SLATED TO OPEN IN 2028.

LEE HEALTH FINISHED THE FRAMING OF THE HOSPITAL RECENTLY.

LEE HEALTH SAYS IT WILL EXPAND CARE FOR UP TO 230 PATIENTS.

THE HOSPITAL COMBINES STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY WITH MODERN MEDICAL CARE.

TOPPING OFF CEREMONY FEATURED STAFF CITING THE FINAL STEEL BEAM BEFORE IT WAS PLACED ON THE ROOF, MAKING THEIR NAMES A BUILDING BLOCK OF THE FACILITY FOR ETERNITY.

LEE HEALTH, VICE PRESIDENT DAVE TO STILL SAYS HE IS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS MILESTONE.

>> I LOOK AT THIS BUILDING AND IT JUST IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF HOPE.

THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE SERVED HERE OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

SO IT'S A PRETTY EXCITING.

IT'S A IT'S A GREAT BUILDING PROJECT TO BE PART OF.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE SERVICED FOR A LONG TIME.

>> THE HOSPITAL WILL HOST THE LEE HEALTH MUSCULOSKELETAL INSTITUTE, SPECIALIZING IN ORTHOPEDIC CARE.

THE DOORS AGAIN, ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN TO PATIENTS IN 2028.

FLORIDA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION MAY BE OVER, BUT THE WORK IS FAR FROM DONE.

COMING UP TOMORROW, WE LEARN ABOUT THE NEW LAWS THAT WERE PASSED AND WHY A STATE BUDGET REMAINS IN LIMBO.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WD C DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL FIND MORE OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.