What you should know about colorectal cancer
BY DR. WAYNE KYE
As a member of the
bipartisan Congressional
Families Cancer Prevention
Program of the Prevent Cancer
Foundation, I want to share the
following information as we
observe National Colorectal
Cancer Awareness Month.
You’re never too young
to start thinking about your
future, and that’s particularly
true when it comes to your
health. Colorectal cancer is often
thought of as an “older person’s
disease,” but rates in people
younger than 50 have risen over
the past several years.
Lifestyle factors can play
a significant role in your risk
for colorectal cancer — so it’s
important to form healthy
habits now to prevent cancer
as you age.
More than 145,000
Americans will be diagnosed
and an estimated 51,020 will
die of colorectal cancer this
year. In New York alone,
an estimated 9,150 will be
diagnosed and 2,890 will
perish from this disease. The
good news is fewer people
overall are being diagnosed,
because it’s one of the few
cancers that can be prevented
with screening.
Although more research
needs to be done, recent studies
indicate that obesity and a
sedentary lifestyle may be
partly to blame for the increase
in colorectal cancer among
younger adults. Other lifestyle
factors, such as smoking,
drinking alcohol in excess and
eating a lot of red or processed
meats, also increase your risk
of colorectal cancer. Having
a personal or family history
of colorectal cancer or polyps
(abnormal growths), certain
genetic conditions such as
Lynch syndrome, or a personal
history of inflammatory bowel
disease or Type 2 diabetes
mellitus puts you at greater
risk as well.
Colorectal cancer doesn’t
OP-ED
In New York alone, an
estimated 9,150 people will
be diagnosed with colorectal
cancer and 2,890 will perish
from the disease.
usually show symptoms until
the disease reaches more
advanced stages, when it’s
more difficult to treat. Visit
a health care professional
immediately if you experience
rectal bleeding, blood in the
stool, a change in bowel habits
or stool shape, the feeling that
the bowel movement is not
complete, abdominal bloating
or cramps, loss of appetite or
unexplained weight loss.
Because of the increasing
rate of colorectal cancer
among younger adults, the
Prevent Cancer Foundation
now encourages screening
to begin at age 45 for those at
average risk.
With screening, your
doctor can detect polyps that
can then be monitored or
removed before they become
cancer. Although the prep
can be unpleasant, the most
effective screening method is
the colonoscopy, which should
be done every 10 years until
at least age 75 for those at
average risk.
If you can’t or won’t get
a colonoscopy, talk to your
health care professional about
other screening options, such
as CT colonography (virtual
colonoscopy) or at-home stool
tests — the best test is the one
that gets done. If you’re at high
risk for colorectal cancer, you
may need to begin screening
earlier or be screened
more often.
Colorectal cancer is
preventable, treatable and
beatable — if the right steps are
taken. Don’t smoke, exercise
regularly, eat a healthy diet—
and don’t put off screening. To
learn more about colorectal
cancer prevention, visit www.
preventcancer.org/colorectal.
Statistics provided by the
American Cancer Society.
Dr. Wayne Kye is the spouse
of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng
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