At Any Age
The authors of a study funded by the National Cancer Institute reported that each year about 25,000 people 50 years old or younger are diagnosed with colon cancer, accounting for up to 17% of all cases. They also reported that colon cancer is among the top 10 cancers to affect people between 20 to 49 years old.
Despite these statistics, the current recommendations for screening still suggest colon cancer screening beginning at age 50 for people of average risk, and at age 45 for people with a heightened risk, such as African Americans.
While there is no question that the majority of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, this provides little consolation to those people whose disease went undetected because they fell outside the recommended age for screening. Susie’s Cause was founded by a woman who was diagnosed at 40.
Read Susie's Story along with those of Stefanie Rieger, a bright young woman who lost her life at 22, and Carmen Marc Valvo, a brilliant designer whose insurance company refused to pay for screening because he too was not yet 50. They will inspire you to take charge of your health.
If you have any of the following, talk to your doctor about early screening:
-
Personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
- Personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (cancer or polyps in a first-degree relative [parent, sibling, or child] younger than 60 or in 2 or more first-degree relatives of any age)
- Known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)
You should also talk to your doctor about being screened regardless of your age if you have symptoms commonly associated with colorectal cancer including:
- Changes in the frequency or consistency of your bowel movements
- Narrow stools
- Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Unexplained fatigue or weight loss
- Anemia
If you are not confident that your doctor is providing you with the correct information, or is not investigating the possibility of colon cancer immediately, get a second opinion.
It’s your life and those of the ones you love at stake!
