♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF ARIZONA'S BATTLE FOR COLORADO RIVER WATER RIGHTS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE STATE'S GLOBAL PRESENCE IN THE GLOBAL SPACE ECONOMY.

>>> AND THE LATEST IN THERAPIES AND TREATMENTS OF COLORECTAL CANCER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ADDRESS FALLING COLORADO RIVER WATER SUPPLIES, AND THE PLAN CALLS FOR STABILIZING LAKE POWELL BY INCREASING WATER RELEASES FROM UPPER BASIN STATES, BUT THE PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR A REDUCTION IN WATER MOVED FROM LAKE POWELL TO LAKE MEAD, WHICH STORES WATER TO LOWER BASIN STATES, INCLUDING ARIZONA.

BOTTOM LINE, COLORADO RIVER WATER SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO FALL, AND MOST SOLUTIONS SHOW ARIZONA TAKING A BIG HIT, WHICH WOULD ESPECIALLY IMPACT THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

FOR MORE ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WE WELCOME IN DANNY SEIDEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

TED: THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT IMPACT, THE NEXT PLAN, THE FEDS ARE PAYING ATTENTION, BUT ARE THEY PAYING ATTENTION IN THE RIGHT WAY?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S SNUCK UP ON ALL OF US.

WE MISSED TWO CRUCIAL DEADLINES ON NEGOTIATING OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE CUTS.

WHAT THE LOWER BASIN STATES BEING ARIZONA-NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA, WHAT WE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

IT'S VERY EASY TO DO THAT, WE BROUGHT 27% INVOLUNTARY CUTS FROM ARIZONA, 10 FROM COLORADO AND UPPER BASIN STATES BROUGHT ZERO.

THEY'RE NOT TAKE THE NEGOTIATION SERIOUSLY, AND THAT IS WHATCOM PACT BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY ANTICIPATES STATES ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.

ARIZONA HAS DONE THAT, COLORADO HAS NOT.

THAT'S WHAT THE FEDS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

TED: IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL AND GETTING BIGGER ALL THE TIME.

COLORADO SAYS WE HAVE TAKEN A HIT.

WE'VE HAD OUR PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT.

WE'RE NOT GETTING THE SNOW WE ORDINARILY WOULD GET THAT.

IS A CUT BACK TO US.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NO.

WE'RE IN A HISTORIC DROUGHT RIGHT NOW, TED.

WHAT ARIZONA HAS DONE HAS SHOWN AMAZING LEADERSHIP.

WE'VE GROWN OUR ECONOMY, OUR POPULARITY, YOU'VE SEEN IT BY GROWING POPULATION BY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GROWN OUR ECONOMY AS WELL.

COLORADO HAS DONE NONE OF THAT.

THEY HAVE DONE OPPOSITE.

THEY USE MORE WATER, NOT LESS AND HAVE NOT GROWN ECONOMY.

BUSINESSES ARE FLEEING COLORADO RIGHT NOW.

SO WHAT THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM RIGHT NOW IS TO USE THE OLD MOM'S ANALOGY, THEY'VE MADE A BED AND LYING IN IT.

THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN LEADERSHIP AND HAVEN'T PREPARED AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

TED: ARIZONA IS BEING ASKED TO SHOULDER MORE OF OUR FAIR SHARE IN CUTS.

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT FAIR SHARE IS?

>> DO IT BY MATH AND WHO'S BEEN WILLING TO MAKE CONSERVATION EFFORTS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

FOR INSTANCE, JUST THIS PAST YEAR, ARIZONA TOOK ON 500,000 VOLUNTARY CUTS ON THEIR OWN.

COLORADO DOES NOTHING.

WE'VE SHOWN 27% IN CUTS, COLORADO DOES NOTHING.

THIS, IS AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR FAIR SHARE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS A COMPACT, ALL WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE CONSERVING, AUGMENTING.

OUR BUSINESSES ARE INVESTING IN WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES, WE'RE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD DO AND COLORADO HAS LITERALLY DONE NOTHING, AND NOW LOOKS TO BE KIND OF STALL, WAIT OUT THE CLOCK, WAIT PAST THE DEADLINES, WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS.

WHY DOES ARIZONA RETAIN ONE OF THE BEST LITIGATION FIRMS IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT SEEK CLIENTS.

COLORADO HAS TWO CHOICES, COME TO THE TABLE WITH REAL NUMBERS OR COME TO COURT.

TED: AGAIN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DEEP IN THE WEEDS, TO GET C.A.P.

APPROVAL, ARIZONA HAD TO MOVE TO LOWER AUTHORITY.

IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?

>> SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

WE COULD DO SEVEN SHOWS ON THAT.

YOU'RE GETTING INTO WATER LAW, AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE IS FIRST IN TIME, FIRST IN RIGHT.

ARIZONA FOR INSTANCE, OUR AG, OUR TRIBES, THEY WERE USING THAT WATER FOR MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN THE COMPACT THAT YOU REFERENCED THAT CAME AROUND IN THE 20s.

ONCE THAT COMPACT CAME IN, C.A.P.

WAS BUILT AND CAME IN LATER, THEY'RE FIRST IN LINE FOR CUTS, BUT ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO CUT.

ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID HERE TOO IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN A NEUTRAL REFEREE.

THEY HELPED TO CONSTRUCT THE C.A.P., CONGRESS APPROVED IT, THEY HAVE OBLIGATIONS THEY FAILED TO MEET, TOO.

ARIZONA IS GOING TO DO LEGAL RECOURSE.

TED: THE 1922, WHICH WAS AN INTERESTING COMPACT, THAT REQUIRES THE UPPER BASIN STATES TO SEND WATER DOWN TO THE LOWER BASIN STATES, AND SOUNDS AS THOUGH, HIRING THAT LAW FIRM, SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE STATE IS SAYING, WE ARE PREPARED TO GO TO THE WALL ON THIS.

>> WE ARE.

I GIVE GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS CREDIT, THIS SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO GOVERNORS WORKING THROUGH MULTIPLE YEARS.

I'M SURE HE KNOWS THIS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS BETTER THAN ANYONE.

ARIZONA ACTED IN GOOD FAITH, WORKED CLOSELY WITH LOWER BASIN AND UPPER BASIN HAS BROUGHT NOTHING TO THE TABLE.

TED: IF THE FED MAKES A DECISION AND HITS ARIZONA HARDER THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT HIT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE?

>> IT'S GREAT, GREAT QUESTION.

THE WAY I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT IS ARIZONA IS SO INNOVATIVE, THERE ARE SOLUTION BUT VERY EXPENSIVE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IF WE DON'T SETTLE THIS WITHIN NEGOTIATION AND THIS GOES TO COURT AND HAVE TO WAIT TEN YEARS TO WIN, EVERYTHING BECOMES A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.

LESS A WATER FIGHT AND MORE A COST OF LIVING FIGHT AT THAT POINT BECAUSE CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTING INFRASTRUCTURE, SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON COLORADO RIVER WATER -- SCOTTSDALE, TUCSON -- THEY WILL HAVE TO CHARGE MORE FOR WATER.

TED: IS THERE A SECTOR YOU ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> CONCERNED FOR ALL SECTORS.

IF YOU LOOK AT ONE DROP OF WATER, TALKING ABOUT SEMICONDUCTORS AT TSMC AND INTEL THAT CONNECT ALL OF US.

COPPER AND MINING.

POWERS AND PROVIDES ENERGY.

EVERYTHING NOT JUST ARIZONA NEEDS, EVERYTHING THE U.S.

NEEDS, NATIONAL SECURITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, IT'S HAPPENING IN ARIZONA.

MISSILES AT RAYTHEON, LUKES ON DRONES.

ALL HAPPENING HERE.

TED: WE TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE THEM DO.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE FROM ARIZONA LEADERS ON THIS FRONT?

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY.

WE ARE GOING FIGHT.

OLD ADAGE DRINKING WATER FOR ARIZONA, PEOPLE FIND OUT WHY THAT IS THE MOTTO FOR ARIZONA.

WE'RE READY TO GO TO COURT, TO THE PRESIDENT.

WE BELIEVE THE WHITE HOUSE CAN WEIGH IN AND FORCE COLORADO TO COME TO THE TABLE.

KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, IF THE PRESSURE IS KEPT ON BUT STILL IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING -- ARE THERE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE?

>> IT GETS VERY DIFFICULT TO LAY OUT ALL THE CONTINGENCIES IF THE CUTS LOOK LIKE WHAT SOME OF THE NUMBERS WE'VE HEARD.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENS WHETHER WE GO TO COURT OR NOT, BUT THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF MONEY.

AGAIN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL OWE US IN THAT SCENARIO, THAT IS BOTH FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS AND SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS.

THERE'S THINGS WE CAN MAKE -- I THINK YOU'LL SEE A DEAL AMONGST LOWER STATES THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE AN ISSUE.

I THINK THAT'S A BIG CONTINGENCY FOR US NOW, THE LOWER BASIN STATES COMING TOGETHER WITH REAL SOLUTION.

TED: INTERESTING.

DANNY SEIDEN, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

>> IT'S NOT A DRY TOPIC, NO PUN INTENDED.

TED: THANK YOU, SIR?

>> YOU GOT IT.

.

TED: SPACE RISING IS A GROUP THAT'S LEADING AN ARIZONA SPACE CONGRESS, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY LEADERS, INVESTORS AND OTHERS, IN HOPES OF CREATING A CLEARLY DEFINED ARIZONA SPACE ECONOMY BY 2030.

TARYN STRUCK IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF SPACE RISING AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: SO WHAT IS -- START WITH SPACE RISING.

WHAT IS THAT, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO THE SPACE CONGRESS?

>> THE REASON SPACE RISING EXISTS IS THE ONE CHALLENGE WE HAVE HERE IN ARIZONA IS THE CONNECTIVE LAYER, THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE THAT BRINGS SECTORS TOGETHER.

WE HAVE A STRONG SPACE ECONOMY HERE, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE DEFENSE AND MANUFACTURING, BUT TO HAVE ALIGNMENT AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING WITH ALL SECTORS TO MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY LEAD IN THE SPACE ECONOMY, VALUED AT A TRILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT DECADE.

WE NEED TO BE ALIGNED.

TED: AND THUS YOU NEED A STRATEGY.

>> WE NEED A STRATEGY, YES.

TED: THE ARIZONA SPACE CONGRESS, HOW DOES THAT HELP DEVELOP A STRATEGY?

>> WELL, WE ARE INVITING ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ALL SECTORS TO COME TOGETHER TO HAVE A VOICE WHAT THE SPACE STRATEGY WILL LOOK LIKE.

WE'LL RUN ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A METHODOLOGY.

WE HAVE CONTEXT AND ALIGNMENT AT THE BEGINNING, HEAR FROM THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ALL DAY AND SOLUTIONEER TACTICS THAT WILL TURN INTO A SPACE ACTION PLAYBOOK FOR THE ENTIRE STATE TO USE AS A STRATEGY STARTING POINT.

TED: YEAH, SOLUTIONEER, I DON'T THINK I HEARD THAT.

>> AND DOING THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ARIZONA SPACE COMMISSION AS WELL.

WE'RE DOING THIS AS A COMMUNITY, BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND WE'RE BEYOND EXCITED.

TED: ARIZONA'S ROLE RIGHT NOW IN THE GLOBAL SPACE ECONOMY IS WHAT?

>> WE ARE POSITIONED BEAUTIFULLY, ARIZONA IS PRIMED TO LEAD.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING HERE, AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL SPACEPORTS RIGHT NOW.

SO WITH THAT HAPPENING, ARIZONA'S POSITIONED IN A WAY WHERE WE COULD BE END TO END MANUFACTURING.

WE BUILD SPACE IN ARIZONA.

WE HAVE YEARAROUND WEATHER WE CAN DO TESTING.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PIPELINES COMING OUT OF AMAZING UNIVERSITIES.

WE HAVE ALL THE POSITIONING, AND THEN THERE'S A NEW RIVER OF FEDERAL CAPITAL COMING OUR WAY WITH THE SPACE FORCE, 80% FUNDING BOOST IN 2027.

WE NEED CAPTURE IT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR NATION AT LARGE.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A GAME PLAN?

>> WE NEED A GAME PLAN, YEAH.

>> THE CORE ASSETS ARE HERE, THE WEATHER, THE LAND, THE AEROSPACE, THE UNIVERSITIES, THE COMMERCIAL SPACE AS WELL?

>> COMMERCIAL SPACE COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO MOVE IN.

WE HAVE OUR PRIMES TO THAT.

WE HAVE NORTHRUP AND WE HAVE HONEYWELL AND RAYTHEON.

THOSE PRIMES ARE GRAVITATIONAL FOR ARIZONA TO BRING NEW MID TIER ACQUISITIONS.

THAT IS IMPORTANT, IT GRAVITATES IN.

WE WANT TO ATTRACT MORE OF THOSE, WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AS WELL.

TED: HOW FAR CAN ARIZONA GO.

ONE OF OUR PRODUCER STUDENTS MENTIONED TRANSPORTING ROCKET PARTS.

YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT ON A TRAIN.

YOU GOT TO HAVE WATER, BARGES, HOW DO WE DO THAT HERE?

>> SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS.

WE NEED TO BRING EXPERTS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RUN THAT.

I WAS SPEAKING IN SIERRA VISTA THE OTHER DAY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A REENTRY SPACEPORT.

THE LOGISTICS ARE HARD TO FIGURE OUT AND PLUG IT IN.

WE NEED EVERYONE TO STRATEGIZE AND SOLUTIONEER ALL THE PIECES.

>> SPACE CONGRESS BRINGS TOGETHER THE SECTORS AND TRYING TO GET RID OF THE SILOS AND GET EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE GAME PLAN.

>> CORRECT, CORRECT, YEAH.

TED: GIVE US WHAT HAPPENS AT A SPACE CONGRESS?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT JUST A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TALKING.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY GLOBALLY AND ARIZONA LOCALLY.

WE HAVE FOUR BREAKOUTS WE FOCUS ON THAT DAY.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR TECHNOLOGY, POWER AND ALSO OUR HUMAN FRONTIERS.

SO THOSE FOUR WILL BE THE PIECES WE DRILL INTO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT AND ALSO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE SOLUTIONS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO BY 2030 AS A COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

TED: THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER SPACE CONGRESS IN 2030?

>> YOU BET.

YOU BET.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM GOING AND DESIGNED TO BE SCALEABLE.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CONGRESSES HAPPEN IN OTHER STATES AS WELL TO CONNECT STRATEGIES.

TED: SO I SAW THIS DESCRIBED AS A ONE-DAY EVENT, ALIGNMENT TO ACTION IN A SINGLE DAY.

>> A SINGLE DAY.

TED: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> AMAZING WHAT WE CAN DO THROUGH FRAMEWORKS AND METHODOLOGIST, WE WILL MOVE EVERYONE THROUGH TO INNOVATION, WE HAVE A LIVE PITCHING COMPETITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD INNOVATION NETWORK.

WE'RE BRINGING IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HAND INTO ARIZONA FOR ALL THIS.

TED: PITCHING MEANING ELEVATOR SPEECHES.

>> ELEVATOR SPEECHES.

WHAT IS THE NEXT EMERGING SPACE TECH.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR PEOPLE.

TED: WE HEAR ABOUT WATER, WATER IS TOP OF MIND.

WE HAVE A DROUGHT AND SHOWS A SUPER EL NINO, BUT THAT WOULD BE A BLIP IN THE DROUGHT.

HOW CAN YOU BUILD A GLOBAL SPACE ECONOMY WHEN WATER IS SO IMPORTANT?

>> EARLIER THEY WERE SPEAKING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ARIZONA BECAUSE WE ARE AN INDUSTRIAL BASE.

IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE HAVE THE WATER FOR OUR NATION, FOR US TO BUILD FOR THE NATION.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL DATA CENTERS, SPACEPORTS.

WE NEED THAT FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

TED: IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE -- GOT TO BE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE FUTURE WHEN WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?

>> IT IS.

WE CAN ONLY WORK A FEW YEARS AT A TIME TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

POWER IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AS WELL.

TED: YES.

LAST QUESTION HERE.

IS ARIZONA PUNCHING TO ITS WEIGHT AS FAR AS SPACE, GLOBAL ECONOMY, ALL THESE THINGS.

>> WE GOT THE OBSERVATORY, LOADS OF HISTORY.

>> LEGACY, YEAH.

TED: BUT ARE WE DOING AS MUCH AS WE COULD?

>> WE COULD DO MORE.

WE SHOULD BE LEADING IN SPACE.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING HERE.

WE JUST NEED THE CONNECTIVE PIECE AND THE ALIGNMENT AND I THINK ARIZONA WILL BE PRIMED AND WE'LL JUST LEAD.

TED: YOU MENTIONED THE SPACE FORCE AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN?

>> YES, LOADS OF IT, AND I WANT TO BE SURE ARIZONA CAN HELP CAPTURE THAT AND BE OF SERVICE TO EVERYONE, YES.

TED: ALL RIGHT, TARYN STRUCK, SPACE RISING.

THIS IS -- >> APRIL 29 AT THE HYATT REGENCY DOWNTOWN.

AN ACTION-PACKED DAY.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT SPACE RISING.ORG.

TED: THANK YOU, TARYN.

>> THANKS, TED.

.

TED: COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS AND PROJECTED TO TAKE 55,000 LIVES THIS YEAR.

NOW THE CANCER CAN BE EASILY TREATED IF CAUGHT EARLY, BUT THE SURVIVAL RATE DROPS IF THE DISEASE SPREADS.

THERE ARE NEW TREATMENTS AND TRIALS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COLORECTAL CANCER.

FOR MORE ON THAT WE WELCOME IN RAJESH RAMANATHAN FROM BANNER MD-ANDERSON CANCER CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING USNESS WE'VE DONE SO MANY STORIES BECAUSE IT SEEMS, SEEMS AS IF COLORECTAL CANCER, THE DIAGNOSES ARE INCREASING ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER FOLKS.

ARE THEY INCREASING IN GENERAL?

NO QUESTION AMONG THE YOUNGER FOLKS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WITH ALL OF OUR SCREENING EFFORTS, IT'S GOING DOWN IN EVERY AGE CATEGORY EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE YOUNG, BELOW THE AGE OF 50.

AND THOSE BELOW THE AGE OF 50, IT'S GOING UP BY A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

TED: DO WE KNOW WHY?

>> A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

SOMEWHERE INHERITED, BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE UNDER OUR CONTROL AS A SOCIETY, WE KNOW THAT EATING PROCESSED MEATS AND RED MEATS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER RATE OF COLON CANCER.

OBESITY AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE INCREASE RISK OF COLON CANCER, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO INCREASE CANCER.

THE HEREDITARY ONES SUCH AS ONES THAT ARE INHERITED AS PART OF GENE MUTATIONS OR ULCERATIVE COLITIS OR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE, THE OTHER FACTORS ARE AREAS WE CAN MAKE HEADWAY IN.

TED: ARE WE SEEING MORE GENETIC ISSUES, INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE, ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE EATING MORE MEAT?

DRINKING MORE, SMOKING MORE, DOING THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE A FACTOR?

GOT TO BE A REASON, DOESN'T THERE?

>> THERE IS VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT AS A POPULATION, OUR BMI, THE AMOUNT OBESITY IS GOING UP, THAT HAS LINKAGES TO IT.

THE OTHER IS SWEETENED BEVERAGES OR SUGARY BEVERAGES ARE A POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR IN COLON CANCER DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT IS INCREASING IN CONSUMPTION.

INTERESTINGLY, TOBACCO CONSUMPTION IS GOING DOWN OVER TIME, BUT I THINK THE OTHER FACTORS ARE OUTPACING THAT.

TED: INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT DIABETES WITH THE SODA DRINKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT COLORECTAL CANCER TOO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: COLORECTAL CANCER.

WE'VE SEEN MORE IN THE WAIVE PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSEED?

>> AT THIS POINT THE PRIMARY MODE FOR DIAGNOSIS IS THROUGH COLONOSCOPY, WHERE YOU MANUALLY INSERT A CAMERA AND TAKE A LOOK, THAT ALLOWS TO YOU GET A BIOPSY TO CONFIRM THAT'S WHAT IT IS AS WELL.

THE REASON WE PUSH COLONOSCOPY SO AGGRESSIVELY, IT'S NOT JUST A TOOL FOR DETECTING CANCER.

ESPECIALLY FOR EARLY CANCERS, IT CAN BE REMOVED WITH THE COLONOSCOPY ALONE, WITHOUT NEEDING SURGERY OR CHEMOTHERAPY OR ANYTHING ELSE.

AND THE IDEA BEHIND SCREENING COLONOSCOPY IS FIND IT AT THE PRECANCER STAGE.

THAT'S THE REASON TO PUSH SCREENING COLONOSCOPY IT.

FINDS IT, THEY CAN ALSO TREAT EARLY COLON CANCER.

TED: THOSE ARE THE POLYPS THAT CAN BE FOUND?

>> EXACTLY.

ALMOST ALL COLON CANCERS DON'T GO FROM NORMAL TO CANCER.

THEY GO FROM NORMAL COLON TO A POLYP AND THE POLYP GOES THROUGH A MULTIYEAR PROCESS BEFORE IT TURNS INTO INVASIVE CANCER.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS WHERE YOU MAIL SOMETHING IN AND IT'S A REMOTE THING, NO COLONOSCOPY HERE, BUT YOU MAIL IT BACK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THOSE ARE CALLED FIT TESTS, THE LATEST EDITION OF THESE.

THESE LOOK AT FRAGMENTS WITHIN THE STOOL TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE A RISK FOR COLON CANCER.

THOSE TESTS ARE GREAT AS WELL, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THOSE ARE MEANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOW RISK OR AVERAGE RISK.

MEANING AS INDIVIDUAL, IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER, IF YOU YOURSELF HAVE HAD OTHER COLON CANCERS OR HAVE SYMPTOMS, THE FIT TEST IS NOT FOR YOU.

COLONOSCOPY IS THE WAY TO GO.

>> OKAY, AS FAR AS TREATMENT, AS FAR AS THERAPIES, CLINICAL TRIALS, WHAT'S OUT THERE?

SEEN ADVANCEMENTS IN SO MANY CANCERS, WHAT ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER?

>> EVERY YEAR THAT GOES BY, THERE'S A NEW DRUG OR THERAPY COMING OUT THAT'S CHANGING IT.

I THINK OF COLON CANCER AS A BAR BELL.

YOU HAVE SOME WE WANT TO FIND VERY EARLY AND PREVENT THE CANCER FROM DEVELOPING.

THAT'S WHERE SCREENING COLONOSCOPY SHINES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'VE GOT A CATEGORY OF LESS THAN 50, MOST OF THEM ARE DIAGNOSED AT HIGHER STAGES, SO WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THERAPIES TO ALLOW THEM TO LIVE LONGER AND TO ALLOW MORE OF THEM TO GET TO A POINT OF BEING CURED OR WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.

TED: ARE THE LATER STAGES, THEY'RE NOT THAT OLD, THEY'RE YOUNGER BY DEFINITION, IS IT BECAUSE THEIR BODIES ARE STILL GROWING IN SOME RESPECTS?

ARE THEY ADVANCING QUICKER THAN OLDER FOLKS?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING, WHEN WE LOOK STAGE FOR STAGE, PEOPLE SURVIVE THE SAME WHETHER IT'S FOUND EARLIER OR LATER IN LIFE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE AVERAGE PERSON BELOW 50, THEY FIND IT MUCH LATER ON.

AT THIS POINT, THE CURRENT NATIONAL RECOMMENDATION IS STILL TO ONLY START SCREENING AT THE AGE OF 45, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE SOME PATIENTS THAT DEVELOP IT BEFORE THE AGE OF 45, WHERE IT'S JUST ALLOWED TO PROGRESS FOR LONGER.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GET OUT AS A MESSAGE IS MANY TIMES SYMPTOMS ARE BRUSHED OFF AS HEMORRHOIDS OR OTHER THINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME THAT COLON CANCER IS A CANCER OF OLDER ADULTS, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

ANYBODY, NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE IS, WITH NEW RECTAL BLEEDING, CHANGE IN BOWEL HABITS, NEW CONSTIPATION OR DIARRHEA, SHOULD GET IT CHECKED OUT.

TED: AS FAR AS TREATMENT IS CONCERNED, THE IDEA TO LIVE LONGER AND TO LIVE BETTER, IS THAT BECOMING ALMOST A PRIORITY AS OPPOSED TO ELIMINATING THE DISEASE ALTOGETHER?

>> THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT WORKING AT BANNER MD-ANDERSON, WE HAVE ACCESS TO CUTTING EDGE CLINICAL TRIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH LATER STAGES OF DISEASE AND LET THEM LIVE LONGER AS WELL AS CUTTING EDGE SURGICAL THERAPIES MEANT TO ELIMINATE CANCER EVEN AT THE ONCE INCURABLE STAGES.

TED: WOW, THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN THEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: WITH THIS IN MIND, WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO SOMEONE DIAGNOSED RECENTLY, HAVE A FRIEND, LOVED ONE, RELATIVE DIAGNOSED, IS THERE OPTIMISM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WHATEVER DAT A LOOK UP ON THE INTERNET, THAT DATA IS ALREADY FIVE OR TEN YEARS OLD.

THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THAT THERE IS LOTS OF OPTIMISM.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE CANCER CENTERS IN TOWN IN PHOENIX AND BANNER MD-ANDERSON, WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES AND THERAPIES TO TREAT SOMEONE NO MATTER WHAT THE STAGE IS.

TED: DR.

RAJESH RAMANATHAN, BANNER MD-ANDERSON MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.