Jane Anmeson Times Correspondent
Dr. Shishin Yamada, a colorectal surgeon at Silver Cross Hospital, points out symptoms that should prompt colon cancer testing.
Four years ago, the death of 43-year-old actor Chadwick Boseman, who appeared in films such as “Black Panther,'' was shocking. It has also become clear that colorectal cancer is not just a disease of people over 55.
The American Cancer Society reports that the number of people under age 55 diagnosed with colorectal cancer (including colon and rectal cancer) has increased from 11% (1 in 10) in 1995. In 2019, this number doubled to 20% (1 in 5 people).
“Colon cancer is on the rise, including a sharp increase in people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, and it is predicted that approximately 20,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer and approximately 4,000 will die. ,” says Dr. Cishin. Mr. Yamada is a board-certified general surgeon at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. “According to the American College of Surgeons, colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and the leading cause of cancer death in women (second only to breast cancer in women under 50), compared to just 20 years ago. rose to No. 2 in the 1990s. ”
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The reason for this increase is not clear, but some of the same causes as colon cancer in older people may be at play.
Bethany Wignall, oncology nurse navigator at Methodist Hospital Oncology Institute, said diets high in red meat, processed foods, fats and fried foods, and diets low in fiber, are considered risk factors. I am.
“Consumption of large amounts of alcohol, smoking, and a lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet can also increase risk,” she continues.
Other risk factors include “adenomatous or precancerous polyps, a history of colorectal cancer and/or genetic disorders.”
“Lynch syndrome is the most common genetic disorder,” Wignall says. “This is associated with 2% to 4% of all colorectal cancers.” The lifetime risk of colorectal cancer for people with Lynch syndrome is 10% to 80%. ”
Environmental factors can also play a role. The National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, has identified 18 chemicals that cause cancer in the intestines of mice or rats. These chemicals can damage DNA and cause harmful mutations in cells in the colon and rectum.
A new study by researchers at Seattle's Fred Hutchison Cancer Center has found a link between the microorganisms found in the mouth and a more aggressive form of colon cancer. In a study of 200 people, the microorganism was present in 50% of patients. Researchers say microbial testing could lead to earlier screening and improved treatment.
“One thing that's clear is that it's not just genetics. There are many more cases that occur suddenly in people under 50,” Cishin says.
Screening and lifestyle changes are the best ways to prevent colorectal cancer or detect it early, making colorectal cancer treatment much more likely to be successful.
Cishin said young people, like everyone else, should call and seek medical attention for symptoms such as rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, or blood in the toilet after defecating.
There are other signs to look out for, such as abnormal-looking stools.
“If the digested blood has had time to pass through the intestines, iron may have been removed, and in that case it will look like iron ore, resulting in black or black stools,” he says. . “Tumors can put pressure on the stool that passes, like a pasta maker. So if you notice thin, thin, or ribbon-like stools, talk to your doctor.”
Diarrhea and constipation (having fewer than three bowel movements per week) can be problematic, especially if these conditions last for more than two weeks. Low energy or feeling more tired than usual can indicate slow and chronic blood loss, which can also be a symptom of colorectal cancer.
“Even if you're a young woman and have chronic anemia and think menstrual bleeding is the cause, it doesn't hurt to check for other causes,” says Cishin. “Many early-stage colon cancers may not feel very strange, if at all, because blockage and pain are late symptoms. Your most reliable symptom checker is yourself, and if you are aware of these symptoms, Tell your doctor.”
“As a result of this significant increase in colon cancer, we now have 45 new people eligible to start colorectal cancer screening instead of 50,” Wignall said, adding that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has announced that colorectal cancer screening will begin in 2021. It was noted that the recommendations have been updated. Early screening “may modestly extend lifespan – the number of colorectal cancer cases and deaths has increased and decreased over the years compared to starting testing at age 50,” she says. says.
Cishin points out that colonoscopy is considered the gold standard test, one that works well and has stood the test of time.
“This has been the gold standard for 50 years,” he says of the outpatient surgery, in which a small, flexible fiber-optic camera is attached to a tube inserted into the rectum while the patient is under mild anesthesia. “We look for abnormalities in the wall of the colon, take samples and remove lesions.”
If cancer is found, treatment depends on the stage and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy.
Paying attention to your symptoms, communicating with your doctor, and knowing that colorectal cancer is on the rise are all necessary steps to save your life, Cishin said.
