The oldest millennials hit a new milestone this year: qualifying for their colonoscopy.
Colon cancer is no longer just a concern for people approaching retirement age. It鈥檚 increasingly common in younger people.
Not only are more young people being diagnosed with colon cancer, but they are often diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has grown and can be more difficult to treat. According to a recent , colon cancer is now the No. 1 cause of cancer death in people under 50.
Doctors and researchers aren鈥檛 sure why.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard question to answer,鈥 says Miles Grunvald, MD, colorectal surgeon at RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center. 鈥淭here have been initial studies that show it鈥檚 likely an environmental change rather than genetic. We suspect that obesity and diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars may be part of the increase.鈥
When to get screened
Because more young people are being diagnosed, now recommend that anyone age 45 or older get checked for colon cancer.
However, some risks for colorectal cancer mean you will need screening earlier, including:
- Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn鈥檚 disease or ulcerative colitis. The damage from these conditions increases your risk.
- Colon cancer in a first-degree relative (your immediate family), especially if the relative was diagnosed younger than age 60. Most people will need to start screening at least 10 years before the age their family member was when diagnosed.
- Genetic conditions. Some genetic changes, such as polyposis syndromes or Lynch syndromes, can increase your risk.
鈥淭hese conditions make it more likely that precancerous polyps start forming in the colon at an earlier age than most people,鈥 Grunvald says. 鈥淢ost colon cancer starts as a polyp. We want to catch the presence of these polyps and remove them before they turn into cancer.鈥
Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and when it makes sense for you to get a colonoscopy.
What to watch for
If you鈥檙e younger than 45 and have normal risk factors for colon cancer, you probably don鈥檛 need to worry about getting screened earlier than recommended. Do get screened as soon as advised, and be aware of colon cancer symptoms.
鈥淎ny changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool should trigger a conversation with your doctor,鈥 Grunvald says. 鈥淭hat includes narrowing of the stool, nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramping. Any amount of blood in your stool is abnormal and should be discussed with your doctor. This is true for people at any age.鈥
If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your primary care physician.
What is the best colon cancer screening test?
Most colorectal cancers show no symptoms until a later stage. The good news is that a colonoscopy can catch colon cancer early.
鈥淐olonoscopy is still the gold standard for screening, because we can actually prevent colon cancer before it starts,鈥 Grunvald says. 鈥淒uring a colonoscopy, we can remove polyps before they grow and become cancerous. 鈥
DNA-FIT tests are another way to screen for colorectal cancer. This test is also approved by the U.S. Preventive 海角原创 Task Force as a screening method for colon cancer.
鈥淭hey aren鈥檛 as sensitive or specific when compared to a colonoscopy, but they鈥檙e easier to do,鈥 Grunvald says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly better than not getting screened at all.鈥
Reducing your risk
So how can you reduce your risk of colon cancer?
Some risk factors, such as being older than 45 or a family history of colon cancer, are impossible to control.
But many cases of colorectal cancer are believed to be linked to lifestyle factors, or choices you make that affect your health. Some changes you can make to reduce your risk include:
- Moving more. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of many issues, including colon cancer. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week.
- Eating right for your colon. Avoid red meats, processed meats or meats cooked at high temperatures. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains and get enough dietary fiber.
- Avoiding alcohol. Alcohol is a carcinogen (cancer-causing chemical). Cutting back or cutting out alcohol can reduce your risk for many cancers, including GI cancer.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Excess body fat is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
- If you smoke, stop. If you don鈥檛 smoke, don鈥檛 start
- Get screened. Screening exams for colorectal cancer can find the disease early, when it鈥檚 most treatable.
