Medical experts are urging the public to adopt early screening and lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
These preventative measures are critical because early detection often allows for more successful treatment and can prevent the progression of the disease.
Dr. Joseph Trunzo, a colorectal surgeon, and Dr. Scott Steele discussed strategies for risk reduction in a recent presentation. They focused on the importance of identifying symptoms early and maintaining an awareness of family medical history to determine when screening should begin.
Lifestyle changes play a significant role in prevention. Some health reports suggest that as few as 10 minutes of exercise per day [3] can help lower the risk of developing the disease. Other guidelines highlight the importance of diet and habit changes, with some reports listing five [1] or seven [2] specific ways to reduce the likelihood of colon cancer.
Data regarding the impact of these trends among younger populations shows a complex picture. Some reports indicate that colon cancer is on the rise among younger people. However, other data suggests a 44% decrease [4] in cancer mortality among U.S. adults younger than 50 since 1990.
Trunzo and Steele said that combining clinical screenings with personal health management is the most effective way to lower individual risk. They said that understanding a family's history of the disease is a primary step in establishing a personalized screening schedule.
“Early detection often allows for more successful treatment.”
The divergence in data regarding younger adults, where mortality is decreasing while incidence is reportedly rising, suggests that while the disease may be appearing more frequently in younger populations, medical interventions and earlier detection are becoming more effective at saving lives.
