Howard S. Hochster, an oncologist at Yale Cancer Center who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, explains when and why individuals should consider colorectal cancer screening.
Howard S. Hochster, an oncologist at Yale Cancer Center who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, explains that screening for colon cancer is recommended to begin at age 50 due to the increase in cancer incidence at that age. However, adults under 50, including those who may be considered at high risk due to factors related to genetics or lifestyle, can also be diagnosed with the disease. "It's still kind of rare to have people in their 40s develop colorectal cancer," he says, but it does happen.
Current guidelines recommend individuals age 50 and older receive colonoscopies every 10 years if they do not have a history of polyps. If a screening exam has identified polyps, more frequent colonoscopies may be recommended.
For people who are at higher risk, they should be screened earlier, around age 40, he says. A common high-risk factor includes having a first-degree relative with a history of colorectal cancer, especially if that family member was diagnosed before age 55.
For more information on colorectal cancer screening and prevention, visit https://www.curetoday.com/tumor/colorectal
The Sport of Cancer: How One Survivor Linked Ironman Training and Colorectal Cancer
February 16th 2023Teri Griege completed an Ironman triathlon in 2009, and less than a month later received a stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis. In this episode of Cancer Horizons, she shared her story.
Listen
‘Let’s Go After This Thing and Fight’ Urges a Long-Time Survivor of Early-Onset CRC
January 27th 2022In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, a woman living with colorectal cancer who was diagnosed 14 years ago at age 29 discusses what it was like to be the youngest person in the treatment room, and how she found another community of young survivors.
Listen