Colon Cancer and the Risk among Younger Generation
You have probably seen an on-going wave of news stories about cancer diagnoses in younger generations when you're reading or watching health news lately. Colon cancer is recently diagnosed in more people in their 20s and 30s than ever before.
March is the month of awareness of colorectal cancer. We talked the specialists of Digestive Disease Specialist who look at patients who deal with intestinal and bowel problems, colon, rectum and anus cancers each day. They will also explain why you need to opt for colon cancer screening at an early stage.
Why do diagnoses of colon cancer grow in younger generations?
For many years, colorectal cancer rates have declined. The American Cancer Society published however results last year of a new study which showed a steady increase in the rates for this type of cancer in those born after 1950 per generation.
“The trend is upward: the risk of colon cancer was 5 per million in this birth group born in 1990, from 3 per million in that same stage of life, to those born in 1950", the New York Times writes about the study. The specific culprit is not currently precisely known to scientists and medical experts.
Only 5% of colon cancers are hereditary, which means that other cases are sporadic or environmental-related, according to reports.
“Over the last few decades, our farming practices have changed so much. We are exposed to much more pollutants in the air and are exposed to carcinogenic agents on an ongoing basis as we spend the day," says the experts of Digestive Disease.
The consumption of fiber, or lack of it, may also play a role. The typical US diet is very fiber-low, which means that our system requires more time to eat. This slow transit time of food in the colon puts us at increased risk.
Diagnoses of early colon cancer in Oklahoma
The increase in cases of cancer of the younger generation is obvious also locally. We see patients much younger than the typical case of colon cancer in our clinic in Oklahoma City.
We have several cancers diagnosed with these types of cancer in their 30s, a handful in their 20s. As the current guidelines stand, they would have been missed with the screening recommendation from 50, if they hadn't been careful about their symptoms and hadn't come in to be examined.
What are the colon cancer symptoms?
Typically patients come for stool blood problems in our clinic. They usually have tried countervailing and topical treatments for hemorrhoids, but they still have problems. Hemorrhoids do not cause obstructive signs and any new constipation occurrence should therefore be watched in people without chronic constipation.
The signs that a colon problem is potentially dangerous include:
Major changes in stool size or shape
Stuffed blood
Severe and/or prolonged constipation
Identify Your Risk and Symptoms
The risk for colon cancer has increased with obesity, past history of abdominal radiation or past kidney transplants. Also important risk factors are diabetes, smoking and alcohol and diets that are high in red and treated meat. Particular attention should be paid to those with the following risk factors:
Multi-colon or colorectal cancer family history (especially in first-degree relatives)
Precancer (adenomatous) polyp personal history
Current diagnosis (crohn's or ulcerative colitis) of inflammatory bowel disease
As with anybody over 50 years of age, African Americans are more likely to develop colon cancer.
Reduce your risk and, if necessary, check
The CDC now recommends, among other things regular tests, colonoscopy every ten years, starting at the age of 50. Those with symptoms and risk factors, however, must not wait for testing. People with colon cancer risk factors should be screened at 40 years of age and those with a first-grade relative who is having colon cancer should be screened ten years before the age of the parent. Choose colon cancer screening to check it from the beginning.
**Disclaimer: This blog content does not offer a doctor's advice and creates no relationship between any patient and care provider.
