You’re not too young for Colon Cancer, you’re not too old for a Colonoscopy

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer has become the leading cause of cancer deaths for Americans 20 to 49 years old.

Dr. Joshua Sultz with the Central Texas Endoscopy Center says colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States behind lung, prostate, and breast cancer. New data has led doctors to screen people for colon cancer at the age of 45 instead of 50.

“We noticed there has been an uptick in terms of the amount of people being diagnosed with colon cancer prior to the age of 50,” said Sultz.

He explained the increase in colon cancer diagnoses may come from a person’s lifestyle or eating habits, people with poor dietary habits, he says, are more likely to get the disease.

“Folks that are obese or they’re more overweight are at a higher risk developing things like colon polyps and as a result, colon cancer.”

A colonoscopy helps prevent colon cancer because it can detect any problems before it becomes a health scare. There are other options, according to the doctor, but he says a colonoscopy is the most effective.

Detecting colon cancer without being screened can be tricky because symptoms are not always present. But, pronounced symptoms include unintended weight loss, change in bowel movements, and rectal bleeding.

“Persistent abdominal pain, a change in your bowel habits where you may be having more diarrhea compared to what you may have normally had, or more constipation in terms of a change,” said Sultz. “You may even start to see blood in your stool as a result.”

For more information or to get a screening visit Central Texas Endoscopy Center.

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