SAN ANTONIO — March is colorectal cancer month, a time to bring awareness to a disease that is highly preventable, colorectcal cancer. In today's Healthy SA KENS5's talk to the experts about the signs you need to look out for and when you need to start getting those life-saving screenings.
The reason why colonoscopies are so important is because you can detect cancer in the pre-cancer phase. If doctors find suspicious looking polyps and those polyps are removed, you can prevent colon cancer. Dr. Sukeshi Arora, a medical oncologist and leader of the GI Malignancies Program at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio said, "Colorectal cancer encompasses colon and rectal cancer. The rectum is the lower part of the colon or the large intestine. So we usually lump them together but they're treated a little bit differently."
In 2024 the American Cancer Society estimated about 106,000 new cases of colon cancer, and about 46,000 new cases of rectal cancer. They say the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about one in 23 for men and one in 25 for women. In the U.S. colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths when the numbers of men and women with the disease are combined. Dr. Arora added, "The biggest risk factor for colon cancer is probably age. As we get older we have a higher risk for colon cancer. But also our diet has a lot to do with it. A higher, carnivorous diet or a meat diet can increase the risk of colon cancer."
Some of the other risk factors include a lack of physical activity, a diet low in fruit and veggies, a low-fiber diet, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and family history. "Family history is a big risk factor any kind of inflammation or bowel disease. And so usually the primary care doctors will be in tune with that to talk to your primary care doctor if that applies to you," said Dr. Arora.
Doctor Arora says you should start getting screened at the age of 45, but earlier if you have a strong family history. The age was lowered from 50 because more younger people are starting to be diagnosed with the disease, and researchers are working to figure out why.