Risk Factors:
- Family or personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
- Personal history of abdominal or pelvic radiation
- Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's)
- Lifestyle factors, like obesity, inactivity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol
- Certain less common inherited conditions, such as Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, cystic fibrosis, or others
If You’re Eligible, Get Screened.
Our society likes to say that 50 is the new 40, but that’s not true for colorectal cancer screenings. For years, the recommended screening age started at 50 for individuals with an average risk of disease. It’s now changed to 45, and it may be even lower if you have risk factors like a family or personal history of cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s). Make sure to have open, honest conversations with your primary care doctor about these risk factors. You’ll even find that screening options have expanded and improved beyond your grandparents’ colonoscopies. Remember, when it comes to colorectal cancer, 45 is the new 50.
Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
It’s easy to write off common conditions like chronic belly pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue or blood in the stool. In many cases, we can attribute their causes to something much less serious than colorectal cancer. Still, it’s often a slow-growing disease. The presence of any symptom that aligns with cancer warrants a discussion with your doctor.
Consider Lifestyle Changes
We can’t control genetics or family history, but we can control other risk factors that lead to colorectal cancer. Excess body weight, sedentary lifestyles, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol can all increase our risk. Do your best to exercise regularly with an appropriate intensity while maintaining a diet that builds muscle but keeps off body fat. Finally, if you smoke, seek out a cessation plan, and if you drink alcohol, limit your consumption.
