A Better Option 
When It Matters Most
At 87 years old, May was living with constant abdominal 
and rectal pain that severely limited her quality of life. 
Her physician identified the cause: a large rectal polyp so 
advanced that it had begun protruding from her body — an 
urgent and complex condition requiring specialized care. 
May was referred to HonorHealth colorectal surgeon  
Dr. Andrew Kassir. Given her age, traditional open surgery 
carried significant risks and likely would have left her dependent 
on a permanent colostomy bag. Instead, Dr. Kassir recognized 
that May could benefit from a far more advanced — and far less 
invasive — approach: interventional endoscopy. 
She was referred to Dr. Amar Thosani, a gastroenterologist at 
the HonorHealth Center for Interventional Endoscopy, where 
leading-edge procedures offer alternatives to major surgery. 
After conducting an endoscopic ultrasound to rule out early 
cancer, Dr. Thosani selected his colleague Dr. Cris Pitea, to 
perform an endoscopic submucosal dissection — a highly 
specialized procedure available at only a limited number of 
centers nationwide and requiring exceptional expertise. 
The outcome was life-changing. 
Today, at 91, May has recovered fully. She avoided open 
surgery, prevented the need for a permanent colostomy and 
has experienced no recurrence of her condition — all because 
she had access to advanced interventional endoscopy. 
This is the power of donor-
supported innovation. 
Philanthropy makes it 
possible to recruit highly 
specialized physicians, invest 
in advanced technology, and 
offer lifesaving — and life-
preserving — procedures that 
restore independence and 
dignity for patients like May.
HonorHealth 
Interventional 
Endoscopy
Interventional Endoscopy saves lives 
and preserves quality of life 
	
l Advanced endoscopic techniques can 
remove large or complex polyps before 
they become cancer, often eliminating the 
need for major surgery. 
	
l Studies show patients treated with 
endoscopic mucosal resection for eligible 
colon lesions had significantly lower 
mortality and less health care utilization 
than those undergoing surgery. 
	
l More than 3,300 Arizonans are 
diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. 
	
l Arizona is one of 15 states without a 
CDC-funded colorectal cancer screening 
program, increasing reliance on advanced 
treatment once disease is discovered. 
T H E  N E E D
HonorHealth Foundation   19 

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