HAMLET — The American Cancer Society has both disturbing news and encouraging news about new cases of colorectal cancer as FirstHealth of the Carolinas joins the nation in observing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
First, the disturbing news: An ACS study published in late February in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that new cases of colon and rectal cancer are increasing among young and middle-aged Americans. Once age is taken into account, the study found, people born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to people born around 1950 when the risk was lowest.
More encouraging, however, is the fact that when all ages are combined, the rate at which new cases of these cancers are diagnosed has been dropping since the mid-1980s. Of particular interest is the fact that the drop is driven by older adults who have reached the age at which screening-testing can find colorectal cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat.
In some cases, screening finds growths (called polyps) that can be removed even before they become cancer.
According to Dr. Shoukath Ansari, a FirstHealth gastroenterologist in Richmond County, the “gold standard” for screening is a procedure called colonoscopy.
“During this procedure, when the colon and rectum are examined with a lighted instrument called a colonoscope, a physician can remove polyps or other suspicious lesions,” Dr. Ansari said. “Since many polyps have the potential to become malignant over time, removing them in effect ‘prevents’ cancer.”
The ACS currently recommends that screening for colorectal cancer start at age 50 if the patient is not considered to be at high risk. Individuals at higher risk, who may need to start screening sooner, include those with a personal or family history of certain cancers, including colorectal cancer, or those with other diseases, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Other risk factors include: a diet that is high in the consumption of red and processed meat and low in the consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables; a sedentary lifestyle; and smoking.