Why new guidelines for colorectal screening?
Diagnosed in 1992 with colon cancer, Pope John Paul died 12 years later at the age of 84. Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with the disease in 1985 and died in 2004 at 93. But these days it's younger folks who are increasingly at risk for colorectal cancer.
A study in the Journal of the American Cancer Institute has found that folks born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared with people born around 1950, when risk was lowest. They also found that people younger than 55 are 58 percent more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease than older people, "largely due to delayed follow-up of symptoms, sometimes for years." But why are younger folks more at risk than ever before? Processed foods, added sugars, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of high-fiber veggies and fruits.
So, there are new guidelines for colorectal cancer screening - if you're of average risk.
- Start regular screening at age 45 and continue through the age of 75.
- People ages 76 through 85 should make a decision with their medical provider about whether to be screened. After 85, it's not needed.
If you and/or your family have a history of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, certain hereditary conditions, or you've had radiation to the pelvis or belly, you may need more frequent and diverse screenings.
And start screening yourself today for risky habits, like eating red meat and egg yolks! You're never too young to start that!
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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