Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States with an estimated 135,430 new cases expected this year. More than 50,000 Americans are likely to die of the disease in 2017. You may think of colorectal cancer as a health issue for your parents or grandparents, but younger adults should also be mindful of the risk factors and symptoms—it’s not just an “old person’s disease.” We hope you’ll take the opportunity to learn more this March as we observe Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Fewer baby boomers are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer thanks in part to screening, which is recommended beginning at age 50 and can detect pre-cancerous growths before they develop into cancer. While the rate of colorectal cancer is much lower in people younger than age 50, it does impact this demographic. An MD Anderson Cancer Center study predicts that the colorectal cancer rate among adults age 20 to 34 will increase 90 percent by 2030. Early onset colorectal cancer may indicate a family history of the disease, but obesity and physical inactivity are common in younger adults who are diagnosed. African-Americans are nearly twice as likely as their white counterparts to develop the disease at a young age. More research is needed to determine the reasons for the increase in this age group and decide if screening guidelines should be adjusted.
If you have a family or personal history of colorectal cancer, benign colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), you may need to begin screening earlier than age 50. Inform your health care professional of your family history regardless of your age. Early onset colorectal cancer is often misdiagnosed, ignored or diagnosed late, so it’s important for your doctor to know if you are at increased risk. If you experience rectal bleeding; bloating, fullness or cramps in the lower abdomen; diarrhea, constipation or a feeling that the bowel movement is not complete; blood in the stool; a change in bowel shape or habits; loss of appetite; or weight loss, discuss your symptoms with a health care professional.
Although the colonoscopy is the most widely known method of screening, alternatives are available. An at-home stool DNA test is available for those at average risk and doesn’t require a special diet or bowel preparation (such as laxatives or enemas). Like other stool-based tests, however, any positive result would need a follow-up colonoscopy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is similar to a colonoscopy but views only part of the colon, requires less bowel preparation than a colonoscopy and often uses no sedation. Talk to your health care professional about the options and the best screening method for you. The frequency of screening depends on the test, but everyone should get screened until at least age 75.
Early detection is not the only way you can prevent colorectal cancer. You can decrease your risk through exercise, a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains, stop smoking (or never start), and limit your alcoholic beverage intake. We all should share this information with our loved ones—of all ages—and learn more about colorectal cancer prevention and early detection at http://www.preventcancer.org.
Diana Enzi and Bobbi Barrasso are cancer survivors and members of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention program of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. They are also the spouses of U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso.
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