Colon cancer is increasing among young adults.Know the signs and protect yourself: Shot

Colorectal cancer among young people is increasing. A growing body of evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle play a role in the rise.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fight Colorecta

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Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fight Colorecta

Colorectal cancer among young people is increasing. A growing body of evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle play a role in the rise.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fight Colorecta

If you think you are too young to get colorectal cancer, consider this. About 20,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed this year in the United States.and estimate 3,750 young people died.

“Colorectal cancer is rapidly shifting to early diagnosis,” concludes American Cancer Society authors Reports released this monthSince the mid-90s, cases in people under the age of 50 have increased by about 50%.it is one of deadliest cancer in this age group.

“The moment I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, I was mad,” says Shauna Brown, union organizer in Stockton, California. She was in her late 40s at the time and was completely in shock. “I had no signs or symptoms,” she says.

Brown had received a screening test kit in the mail from her health care provider, but she didn’t consider it urgent and, frankly, felt sick. The test required a stool sample to be collected and returned. “So I ignored the test.” At the time, many people believed that in 2018 the American Cancer Society Lowered recommended age Start screening from age 50 to 45.

Shawna Brown of Stockton, California, was shocked when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in her late 40s.

Kaiser Permanente / Shauna Brown

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Kaiser Permanente / Shauna Brown

Shawna Brown of Stockton, California, was shocked when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in her late 40s.

Kaiser Permanente / Shauna Brown

Eventually, at a routine appointment, Brown’s nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente convinced her to complete a screening. called FIT test, A small amount of blood in stool can be detected. It was positive, so Brown had a colonoscopy and his doctor found a cancerous polyp. She then underwent surgery to remove a small section of her colon, but fortunately the cancer had not spread further.

She is now a screening advocate. “It definitely saved my life,” says Brown. Two years later, she remains cancer-free.

Millennials and Gen Z are also at risk.Diet may play a role

People in their 20s and 30s are statistically much less likely to get colorectal cancer compared to people over 50, but cases in this age group are on the rise.By 2030. is expected to increase by 90% to AS Dr. Kimmy NgDirector of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana Farber Cancer Center.

Ng said researchers are evaluating a variety of factors that may be contributing to the increase in colorectal cancer. Vitamin Dcomplex role of microbiometo high effect red meat consumption And the role of the whole meal.

the study Released in 2021 women who drank more Sweet drinks twice a day The risk of early-onset colorectal cancer was more than doubled compared to women who drank less than one drink. and published research This month, people who eat a lot of fresh and minimally processed foods are less likely to develop colon cancer than those who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods such as processed meats, sweets, sodas and convenience foods. It suggests that

A healthy diet also likely plays a role in preventing recurrence in people diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Studies published in 2019 found. Researchers followed about 1,000 patients who were treated for stage 3 colon cancer.They found that people who consume a lot of foods that can spike insulin, such as white bread, sugar-sweetened drinks, and processed snacks, are about Twice as likely to relapse or die compared to those who ate the fewest of these foods

Wake-up call at 35:00

When Deondre Williams of Covington, Georgia, first saw blood in her stool, she thought she had hemorrhoids and put off seeing a doctor. At the time, he was in good health and weighed 240 pounds. “I was firm,” Williams says. “I was exercising consistently, so I thought I was healthy.”

However, at the age of 35, he had colon cancer.After he was diagnosed, Williams surgery and used Several months recovery.

Deondle Williams of Covington, Georgia was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 35.

For Deondre Williams/NPR

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For Deondre Williams/NPR

Deondle Williams of Covington, Georgia was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 35.

For Deondre Williams/NPR

Now he is back as a football coach and speaks at community events about the importance of colorectal screening. And he changed his eating habits a lot. “I don’t eat a lot of processed food anymore,” he says.

Growing up, his father was a truck driver and his family didn’t have time to prepare meals at home. There was no. “It was all grab-and-go,” he explains. Side dishes and processed foods were convenient. But now he eats more fresh food, cuts down on bacon, sausages and snack foods, and also avoids sugar and soda.

The good news is that colorectal cancer very treatable when caught early. So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are five strategies.

1. Know the signs and symptoms

some of the early Colon cancer symptoms Bloody stools, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, bloating, fullness, and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened.

“Young-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise across all ethnic and racial groups,” said Ng. “So everyone should be aware of the symptoms.”

2. Don’t Miss 45

Everyone over the age of 45 should be screened for colorectal cancer. If your healthcare provider mails you a stool sample test, do not ignore it. Also, if you are young and have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, your doctor may recommend early screening.

3. Talk to your family about your cancer history

Ask a parent or sibling if they have ever been diagnosed with polyps or colon cancer. First-degree relatives (siblings, parents or children) of someone diagnosed with colorectal cancer should start screening 10 years earlier than the age at which the family was diagnosed, Ng explains. , if your father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 45, he should be screened at age 35. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have a family history.

4. Choose a screening option

You don’t necessarily have to undergo the dreaded colonoscopy.there are a few more Effective screening option. “Screening has never been easier,” says TR Levin, gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente.

Screening methods include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy (a less invasive test to evaluate part of the colon), or stool-based testing, usually done at home, It will be returned to the examination room.

One commonly used stool test is Fecal immunochemistry test known as FIT A test that can detect small amounts of blood in the stool usually held annually.this video will walk you through the process. )

Another option is Stool DNA test, Cologuard, etc. — can detect both blood and DNA changes that may originate from cancerous or precancerous polyps in stool. Those who choose this option are generally advised to test every three years.

“We have many options, and you should talk to your doctor about which ones are easier to complete,” says Levin.

Colonoscopy is usually recommended for people who are at high risk for colorectal cancer because of a family history. Dr. Douglas Corey of Kaiser Permanente. If the risk is not high, you should choose a test that you can complete, whether it be a colonoscopy or a less invasive and more frequent stool-based test.

Still not sure how to proceed?take this Personalized Recommended Quiz Developed by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Enter your age and the symptoms you’re experiencing to help us find the best fit for you.

5. Change your diet and increase physical activity

“Colorectal cancer is one of the cancers most strongly associated with diet and lifestyle,” said Ng.

While there are still many unanswered questions about what causes the increase in colorectal cancer, there is evidence that a healthy diet can be preventive. Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancerThere is also growing evidence that a diet rich in highly processed foods and sugary drinks can be harmful.