Colon Cancer-Free after Robotic Surgery, Thanks to Wife’s Push for Screening
“I thought it was 50,” Mark Kluesner said to his wife, Amy, when they were discussing the age to get a colonoscopy. Amy responded by telling Mark the recommendation for colonoscopy changed to 45 – his current age at the time. During his annual physical the next month, Mark was not surprised when his provider ordered the screening. However, the results were startling.
“I had my colonoscopy in May 2025,” Mark shares. “They found two polyps. One was benign, and the other one was cancerous. I was surprised. I wasn’t having any issues, no changes in digestion or bathroom habits, and there’s no history of colon cancer in my family.”
Soon after his screening, Mark met with Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa (PCI) Oncologist Bharat Jenigiri, MD, and PCI Surgeon Luke Brunner, MD.
Cancer Concerns Prompt Quick Action
“When there’s suspicion of cancer, we aim for a pathology report within 24 hours,” says Dr. Brunner. “We do our best to schedule the patient’s consultation with the surgeon and oncologist on the same day. The goal is to determine if the patient has metastatic disease (cancer that has spread to other areas of the body). If the cancer is localized, the patient has suitable tissue for resection (removing the tissue) and can tolerate surgery, that's typically the next step. For many patients with metastatic disease, chemotherapy is considered first to try to shrink the lesion, however in some circumstances, patients with metastatic lesions are candidates for resection.”
Fortunately, Mark’s cancer had not spread, and he chose to go forward with Dr. Brunner’s recommendation for robotic surgery. Dr. Brunner is one of 27 surgeons who operate at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s and are trained on the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System. It's used for lung cancer, urological, bariatric, gynecological and some general surgeries, such as colon cancer surgery.
St. Luke’s Hospital acquired Cedar Rapids' first robotic technology more than 20 years ago. The hospital now has six surgical robots and offers dozens of procedures. Since 2005, surgeons have completed more than 15,000 robotic surgery cases at St. Luke’s.
Robotic Surgery is Less-Invasive, Speeds Recovery Time
“In my experience, robotic surgery causes significantly less tissue trauma,” Dr. Brunner explains. “It’s very similar to laparoscopic surgery, like for an appendix or gallbladder, where there are small ports (incisions). The robot essentially clamps to the port, I put in my instruments, and anything I do on the control panel next to it, the robot does. I'm in control the entire time, and I can see remarkably well. I don’t need incisions large enough to accommodate my hands.”
In addition to smaller incisions, robotic surgery offers several other benefits. Depending on the type of surgery, patients typically have shorter hospital stays, less pain, reduced risk of infection, less blood loss and transfusions, fewer complications and faster recovery and return to normal activities. That was the case for Mark.
“I was in the hospital for only one night,” he says. “I didn’t need to take anything other than Tylenol and ibuprofen. I had a lifting restriction, but I was able to take some walks and increased the length each day. In about a month I was back on the golf course.
“I lucked out,” Mark continues. “I’m grateful to my wife for pushing me to have a colonoscopy. Because of that, the cancer was caught early. Who knows what would have happened if I had waited until 50.”
"I'm grateful to my wife for pushing me to have a colonoscopy [at age 45]. Because of that, the cancer was caught early. Who knows what would have happened if I had waited until 50."
Earlier Diagnosis Reduces Complications, Improves Chance of Survival
“We’ve been seeing more young people diagnosed with colon cancer lately,” Dr. Brunner says. “Mark did everything right. He’s the poster child for not feeling colon cancer symptoms early. You don’t really feel colon cancer until it becomes a problem.”
Common signs of later-stage colon cancer include:
- Bloating or pain during bowel movements
- Changes in bowel movement appearance
- Feeling unable to empty the bowels or bladder
- Presence of anemia in lab work
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for stage-four metastatic colon cancer is 13%, compared to 91% survival rate when caught before the cancer spreads. Individuals who have a family history of colon cancer are at higher risk for also being diagnosed with the disease. Dr. Brunner says adult children who have a parent who’s had colon cancer should start screening 10 years before the age at which their parent was diagnosed, or at age 40, whichever is earlier.
Talk to your primary care provider to schedule your annual screening colonoscopy.