Colorectal cancer is noted to be on the rise in younger patients. This is concerning as rates have steadily declined in other age groups. Although a small percentage overall, the rate of most marked rise in colon cancer is seen in the 20’s. New research suggests colorectal cancer is clinically different in younger patients. The
The recent issue of Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology addresses the American Cancer Society’s new recommendation to lower the age of initial screening for colon cancer from 50 to 45. The recommendation follows a small spike in younger patients having colon cancer. However, those patients are not necessarily 45-50. Actually, patients in their 20’s are the
Patients with detectable fecal hemoglobin or a positive guaiac fecal occult blood test result face a higher risk of dying from colorectal cancer, compared with those who had a negative test result, according to a study in Gut. This is as expected, as blood in the stool is a well-known sign of potential colon cancer.
A study of Medicaid patients showed that those who received fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) in the mail were more likely to complete colorectal cancer screening than those who were just reminded. Colorectal cancer is more treatable if caught early, but only about 63% of the population is screened, and the rate drops further among vulnerable
Dr. Rob Allison, a physician in Pierre, S.D., has no history or symptoms of colon cancer but got his first colonoscopy at age 50 to encourage others to get the screening. Allison says the procedure is quick, painless and potentially lifesaving. See the video from KSFY (ABC-TV) here.
Bariatric surgery doubles a patient’s risk for colorectal cancer, UK researchers reported in the British Journal of Surgery. Researchers studied a cohort of 8,794 patients who underwent gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or gastric banding. However, bariatric surgery was also associated with a five-fold decrease in the risk of hormone-related cancers (breast, endometrium, and prostate). The
In response to an increase in colorectal cancer rates in younger people, the American Cancer Society released a change in its screening guidelines to recommend adults at average risk begin CRC screening starting at age 45 instead of 50. Not all health societies, government models, or payors have responded yet. However, the news does reflect
The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer found cancer diagnoses and deaths in the US overall have been decreasing for men and women, mainly due to better treatments, prevention and screening in colorectal, lung and breast cancers. Prostate cancer death rates stabilized, however, after years of decline, and cases of oral
Two US House lawmakers say more must be done to reduce the mortality rate associated with colorectal cancer, including funding research into preventing and treating the disease. Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., and Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., are sponsoring the bill. The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, in part corrects a glitch in Medicare
A study in the journal Gut found taking daily calcium supplements may increase the risk of serrated colon polyps, a precursor lesion to colon cancer. People who took calcium or calcium plus vitamin D were more likely to develop polyps from six to 10 years after the study began, but calcium from dietary sources was
