Overall, colorectal cancer incidence is on the decline
It’s still the third most common cancer in the United States, with over 95 thousand new cases expected to be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Men have a 1 in 21 risk of developing the disease, while women fare a bit better at 1 in 23. “Rates have been steadily decreasing over the past few decades, largely as a result of increased screening,” says Jerald D. Wishner, MD, FACS, director of the minimally invasive and colorectal surgery program at Northern Westchester Hospital. Still, as many as half of Americans who should be getting colon cancer screenings, aren’t, which is why some 50,000 die from colorectal cancer each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But young people don’t get screened
Currently, the age to begin colorectal screenings is 50. “That’s why we don’t spend time looking at 25-year-olds, but we know there are young patients out there with cancer,” Dr. Wishner says. The screening recommendation further stipulates that it’s for people over 50 who are considered “average risk,” Dr. Wisher adds. You’re at average risk if you don’t have a first-degree relative (mom, dad, brother, sister, child) diagnosed with colorectal cancer and if you don’t have precancerous polyps. Don’t miss the silent signs of colorectal cancer.
Their cancers may be more deadly
Initiating routine screening with colonoscopies was a game changer because it has allowed doctors to find cancerous polyps (growths in the lining of the colon) early or when they’re still precancerous. However, often young, healthy adults don’t have a doctor or don’t get seen regularly, so potential concerns never get addressed in the first place. Being traditionally healthy, they also may blow off symptoms. These are the colon cancer signs you might be ignoring.
Young patients do walk through the doors
When Gina Neri was 39, she saw her doctor for rectal bleeding. He then referred her to a GI specialist for testing, and she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Around the same time, she also learned she was pregnant with her third child. “This was the first time I’ve seen it in 30 years—a pregnant woman with colorectal cancer,” says Dr. Wishner who treated Gina. Because of early detection and swift action on the part of her doctors, Gina received a successful operation to remove the tumor, and she was able to deliver a healthy baby girl.
Unless there’s a reason for a colonoscopy
If you have a first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you should be screened 10 years earlier than the relative’s age when they had it. So if your mom was diagnosed at age 45, you should get screened at age 35. Here are doctors’ insider tips on how to make getting a colonoscopy easier.
Pay attention to your bathroom habits
“This disease is an equal opportunity offender and you have to be aware of the symptoms,” says Dr. Wishner. You might see blood on the toilet paper after you wipe or notice a sudden change in bowel habits, like diarrhea, constipation, mucous-y stools, cramps or pain, or stools that become narrower in shape, which can all be indications of colorectal cancer symptoms. Overwhelmingly it will not be cancer, and will more likely be something like hemorrhoids, lack of fiber in your diet, or those spicy tacos you ate yesterday. These are the cancer-causing foods doctors never eat.
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You’ll know it something more when symptoms stick around
Everyone gets constipated sometimes or eats something that doesn’t agree with them. So if these symptoms crop up, don’t panic and assume the worst. The good news is that the cancer doesn’t advance overnight, says Dr. Wishner. It’s okay to wait a couple weeks or a month to see if your symptoms resolve. If not, bring them to the attention of your doctor. And especially if you have family history of the disease, you should be taking these proactive steps to prevent colon cancer.
Your symptoms may be overlooked
Truth be told, when doctors see a 70-year-old with diarrhea or constipation, they’ll at least think about cancer. With a young, healthy-looking patient, they may just brush off the complaint and tell them to go home and take a laxative. To advocate for yourself, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions or say, “what else could this be?” advises Dr. Wishner. Tell them that you know about this new data on the spike in colorectal cancers among Millennials. “This is news to a lot of doctors,” he says.
Don’t be afraid of the colonoscopy result
Many patients don’t want to get a colonoscopy because they’re afraid of what a positive cancer diagnosis might mean. However, Dr. Wishner says that with current technology, most colorectal cancers that are found early are cured with surgery alone, most patients don’t need chemo, and surgery has become more precise. Dr. Wisher performs minimally invasive robotic surgery, which results in tiny incisions, less pain, and shorter recovery. “If you do have it you need to find out—and the earlier the better,” he says.
It’s all about your lifestyle
Obesity, lack of exercise, and a poor diet are all big drivers of colon cancer. For instance, eating a fast food, highly processed diet triggers inflammation in the gut that may put you at higher risk, reports the JNCI study. Make sure you’re staying active (get the recommended 150 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week), eating a good amount of fiber from veggies, fruits, legumes, and whole grains (it’s what sweeps out your colon), and use those healthy habits to help you maintain your weight. Your gut—and everything else—will thank you.
from Reader's Digest http://ift.tt/2mNOQ4Z
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