For years, colorectal cancer has been considered a disease found in your grandparents. But now it’s running in reverse. In recent years, colorectal cancer rates have been declining in older people and rising for the under-50 crowd. That’s causing concern among health care professionals.
Who’s affected?
Millennials have double the risk of colorectal cancer compared to those born in 1950. Why? Researchers have identified several factors including obesity, increased consumption of processed foods ( beware of some products marketed as “healthy” that are actually heavily processed and contain artificial ingredients: protein bars, granola, and vegan “meats”) and decreased physical activity. In addition, adults under 55 are nearly 60% more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease than older adults, due to lack of screening.
The increase is significant enough that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society have lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening to 45. People with increased risk factors should start even earlier, according to the American Cancer Society. These include:
- A strong family history of colorectal cancer
- Obesity, smoking, Type ll diabetes and other Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
- A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
- A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
- A personal history of radiation to the abdomen or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer
What can you do about it?
You can reduce your personal risk of getting colorectal cancer by quitting smoking and tobacco products, eating a healthy diverse diet, and getting regular exercise. But the key to beating cancer is early detection. That doesn’t always mean a colonoscopy. There are several other effective screening options.
The bottom line: take care of your bottom.
Be aware and take care. Know your risk factors. At MRO, we’ve been treating colorectal cancer patients with advanced radiation technology for over thirty years. We’ve seen the positive results that early detection and treatment can yield. This month, during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, do yourself a favor: make it a point to get tested and treated.
Additional Resources:
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance: https://www.ccalliance.org/
- The American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer.html
- National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/types/colon-and-rectal
