Why Colon Cancer is Rising in Younger People
I'm sure a lot of you have seen it on social media or the news that colorectal cancer in younger individuals is on the rise. One in five people diagnosed w/ colorectal cancer is under the age of 55, previously it was mostly seen in the elderly. It is also the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in young adults. Usually the screening test is done w/ a colonoscopy starting at age 45 (assuming no family history or other risk factors). However, warning signs such as persistent abdominal pain, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue/low iron are all symptoms that should ABSOLUTELY not be ignored and should be discussed w/ your doctor.
You might be thinking, why is this cancer on the rise? Although there are a lot of things in play, a huge part of it is lifestyle factors. Things like eating lots of red meat, smoking, alcohol use, sodas/sugary drinks, and ultraprocessed foods all impact your cells and can lead to cancers. Lack of exercise and sitting too much can also be part of it. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill for these types of things, and unless we move towards a healthy lifestyle, these types of cancers and conditions are only going to become more and more common. I know this is a little bit of a doom-and-gloom topic, but it is an important thing to be aware of and know that your habits absolutely do matter even if you are young.
Sent via email list 4/2/27
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