CINCINNATI (March 2, 2026) – March marks Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and The Christ Hospital Health Network has the latest technology to help patients with colorectal cancer. In fact, colorectal cancer rates are increasing among younger adults and is the number one cancer killer in the country.
Janice Rafferty, MD, and John Frankel, MD, are board-certified colorectal surgeons at The Christ Hospital Health Network who specialize in surgery for cancer in the colon and rectum. Because of their expertise with minimally invasive surgery using the Da Vinci Xi robot, the average length of stay for patients after surgery for colorectal cancer is less than three days, well below the national average of almost 10 days. In fact, patients typically go home the day after their surgery with few small incisions. The Christ Hospital has fewer ICU admissions after surgery and lower readmission rates for patients who undergo surgery with the Da Vinci Xi robot.
“While we’ve seen colorectal cancer rates increasing, our highly specialized team of surgeons, surgical assistants, nurses and surgical technologists are using the latest cutting-edge technology to treat and care for patients in our community,” said Dr. Rafferty. “The increase in cases is alarming but patients that undergo robotic-assisted surgery at The Christ Hospital have shorter recovery times and a faster return to normal activities. It’s important that patients continue to follow the recommended screenings to detect and treat colorectal cancer early on.”
The American Cancer Society recommends screening colonoscopies to detect colorectal cancer begin at the age of 45. A colonoscopy takes between 30-60 minutes with a short post-procedure recovery and is easily scheduled through a primary care provider. Dr. Rafferty says knowing your family history, monitoring your bowel habits and early detection is key to beating colorectal cancer.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, eight ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 137 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and 7,200 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2026.