How to Take Control of Your Health as Colorectal Cancer Rates Rise among Young People

Authored by:

March marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Rates of the second most deadly cancerin the United States are rising, especially among young people, and no one knows exactly why.

But there's good news, said Matthew Ng, an associate professor of surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences who specializes in colon and rectal surgery. "Colorectal cancer is highly preventable with screening, because it can catch precancerous growths before they grow deadly."

People should start getting regular colonoscopies at age 45, or earlier if they have a family history or any concerning symptoms, Ng said. For patients who fit certain criteria, the GW Cancer Prevention and Wellness Centeroffers free pre-screeningsevery Monday. Men between the ages of 40 and 70 without a history of prostate cancer can also schedule free pre-screeningswith the GW Medical Faculty Associates in Foggy Bottom the fourth Friday of every month.

Certain lifestyle choices have also been reliably found to lower cancer risk, Ng said. Some research suggests that taking a regular low dose of aspirinmay be protective against colorectal cancer because of the medication's anti-inflammatory properties. Regular physical activity is linked to lower rates of many cancers, including colorectal cancer. So is a diet with a good balance of gut-protective fiberand not too much processed food.

"I don't tell people they can never eat processed foods-just limit the amount that you're intaking," Ng said. "I tell my patients to focus on a diet with 'colorful foods'-fruits, vegetables, things that have color, those are all great for you because they have a lot of antioxidants."

First of a Kind Case Study Shows Remarkable Improvements for Prostate Cancer Patient