{"id":520896,"date":"2026-03-07T18:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/520896\/"},"modified":"2026-03-07T18:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:17:27","slug":"the-lifesaving-power-of-early-colon-cancer-screening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/520896\/","title":{"rendered":"The lifesaving power of early colon cancer screening"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colorectal cancer \u2014 cancers that affect the colon and rectum, the last stops on the digestive tract \u2014 is now the leading cause of cancer death in people under 50. This concerning trend of increasing colorectal cancer rates in younger people led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to change its\u202fcolorectal cancer screening recommendations<\/a>\u00a0in 2021 to advise an earlier start.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RachelDr.\u00a0Rachel Issaka<\/a>, a gastroenterologist and director of the Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at UW Medicine and Fred Hutch Cancer Center, wants people to understand how tests and early intervention can prevent colorectal cancer deaths in all ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She calls the reason behind the rising colorectal cancer rates in young people \u201ca million-dollar question,\u201d but early studies point to factors such as increased consumption of alcohol and ultra-processed foods, along with obesity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Issaka discussed colorectal cancer screening options and timing, as well as symptoms that should prompt a visit to the doctor and testing. The conversation below was edited for clarity and length. \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: Why should people get screened for colorectal cancers?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Colorectal cancers are one of the most preventable cancers, and screening is a powerful tool for prevention and early detection. These cancers typically begin as small growths within the colon called polyps, which can progress over time and become cancer. We have very effective ways to detect and remove polyps before they\u2019re cancerous, as well as to catch cancer at its earliest stage when it’s easiest to treat.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: When should screening begin?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0We recommend most average-risk individuals \u2014 people who do not have a family history of colorectal cancer or who do not have inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease \u2014 start colorectal cancer screening at age 45. We define family as first-degree relatives, including parents, siblings and children related by blood.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The current guidelines recommend screening happen between the ages of 45 and 75, but there are exceptions to that rule.\u202fPeople at higher risk, meaning those with a family history of colorectal cancer or with an inflammatory bowel disease, might begin screening earlier.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: What are the test options, and how often should screening occur?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0There are many screening options.\u202fSome visual tests, like colonoscopies, look directly at the colon. There are also non-direct tests, including stool tests that look for\u202fsmall amounts\u202fof blood in the stool or newer-generation blood tests. The frequency of screening depends on the test and the results. A completely normal colonoscopy needs to be repeated every 10 years. A stool-based test, if completely normal, needs to be repeated\u202fannually or up to every three years, depending on the type of test. \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

If a person chooses to be screened with a test other than colonoscopy, any abnormal test result should be followed by a timely colonoscopy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: What symptoms should prompt someone to get screened?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Most colorectal cancers are asymptomatic, which is why we recommend people start screening at age 45, even if they feel perfectly fine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Symptoms of colorectal cancer might include blood in the stool that may be persistent or intermittent,\u202fabdominal pain that is not otherwise explained, unexplained weight loss or changes in bowel movements. For anyone experiencing these symptoms, we recommend a colonoscopy.\u202fHealth insurance will usually cover screening at any age for people with worrisome symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also, pay attention to abnormalities in blood lab work. Iron deficiency anemias are one of the more common signs that we see in people who have colon cancer. If you have anemia, we suggest getting screened with a colonoscopy to make sure colon cancer is not a cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many people don’t like to talk about stool and don’t want to look at their stool, but I tell my patients to make a habit of looking at their stool. You won\u2019t see blood in your stool or know if there are changes in your bowel movements if you haven’t been paying attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: If I\u2019m under 45, do I need to get screened?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0For people who are under the age of 45, we recommend that they talk to their relatives to understand their family\u2019s cancer history. We know that certain cancers, such as uterine cancer and Lynch syndrome (a hereditary condition that raises the risk of many cancers), are associated with genetic syndromes that increase an individual’s risk of colorectal cancer. So, understanding your family\u2019s medical history can help your healthcare team to know if you need to be screened earlier. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: What percentage of people who should get screened are doing so, and if not, why not?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0In the United States, our goal is to screen 80% of people between the ages of 45 and 75. However, one in\u202fthree people who should get screened has not completed screening yet. That’s due to a combination of factors, including lack of insurance, difficulty accessing physicians and the\u202flogistics\u202fof navigating healthcare systems.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Q: What do you wish everyone understood about screening?\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Survival from colorectal cancer is greatest when\u202fit’s\u202fcaptured early. For people who are diagnosed with this cancer when\u202fit’s\u202fstill within the colon, 90% to 95% of them are alive and well five years after diagnosis. But if the cancer spreads beyond the colon, only about 10% to 13% of people are doing well at that same five-year mark. Don’t\u202fdelay\u202fscreening; it could make a significant difference.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Colorectal cancer \u2014 cancers that affect the colon and rectum, the last stops on the digestive tract \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":520897,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-520896","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/520897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}