If you're experiencing severe abdominal pain, it can be a symptom of anything from a hernia to an inflamed appendix to inflammatory bowel disease. Alfonso Aguirre, MD, a general surgeon who specializes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, uses minimally invasive techniques to find and fix the problem. "That's what I love most about being a surgeon," he says. "It allows me to confront these issues in a very direct way."

Range of Procedures
At FDRMC, Dr. Aguirre performs a range of gastroenterological surgical procedures, including:

• Colon cancer surgery
• Gallbladder removal
• Hernia repair
• Appendectomy

Alfonso Aguirre, MD

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Dr. Aguirre joined FDRMC last fall to work close to his home. He grew up in Piedras Negras and completed medical school and his surgical residency at Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey, Mexico. After practicing for several years in Acuña, Mexico, he did a second general surgery residency at East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee, and further training at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He then completed advanced training in laparoscopic colorectal surgery during a fellowship at Florida Hospital Medical Center in Orlando.

Add Colorectal Cancer Screenings to Your Calendar
Colon cancer screening, which Alfonso Aguirre, MD, performs at FDRMC, can help save your life. "After age 50, everyone should have a colonoscopy, which involves examining the entire colon with a flexible scope that is inserted through the rectum," he says. "A gentle anesthetic keeps patients comfortable, and they're usually surprised by how easy it is," he adds.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S., and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. But it can be stopped if it's found early. People at low risk need a colonoscopy only every 10 years. People with a personal or family history of colon cancer need screenings more often.

Regular screening for colorectal cancer can be lifesaving in two ways:

• First, screening can help detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage.
• Second, screening sometimes reveals lesions called polyps. While colorectal polyps usually are not cancerous, most colorectal cancers do begin in polyps. Having these polyps removed could help prevent colorectal cancer.