Colon cancer in Gen Y

This piece is sponsored by Sanford Health.

For years, the most common medical recommendation for colorectal cancer screenings was for adults turning 50.

Now though, cancer rates among younger people are rising. The recommended screening age is now 45 for the majority of people and even younger for those with a family history of colorectal cancer.

As members of the millennial generation — aka Generation Y, those born between 1981 and 1996 — hit their 40s, there is a lot to learn about the importance of colonoscopy screening options, prevention, symptoms and colorectal cancer treatment.

“The good news is that colon cancer is decreasing in older populations,” said Dr. Kent Peterson, a colorectal surgeon at Sanford Health. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming more common in younger adults. People under the age of 40 are twice as likely to get colon cancer and four times as likely to get rectal cancer as the generation before them. And remember, these are people that would not be caught by screening normally. This is one of the reasons why I went into colorectal surgery – to try to help figure out why this is happening and treat this problem.”

Peterson said there are warning signs millennials should not ignore.

“The typical story I will see as a colorectal surgeon is someone that’s had bleeding or some change in bowel habits for years,” Peterson said. “Maybe they’ve seen their primary care provider. Maybe it went away, or they ignored it. Maybe they think it’s normal, or they were told it’s just hemorrhoids. Those are typically the people that I wish would’ve gotten a colonoscopy years earlier before seeing me and would’ve had much better options that we could offer them when cancer is finally diagnosed. In fact, we’ve seen a number of celebrities in their 30s and 40s over the last couple of years, like Chadwick Boseman or James Van Der Beek, who were in a similar situation and have spoken out on colorectal cancer awareness because of this.”

There are other signs as well. Peterson said family history is incredibly important.

“People with a first-degree relative who has had colorectal cancer – like a brother or a parent – they would typically start screening earlier than the average person. Typically, at age 40, or 10 years before your relative’s age at diagnosis,” Peterson said.

“There are also a number of other genetic syndromes that can predispose someone to cancer. I recently had a 30-year-old that had done a random genetic screen and found they had Lynch syndrome. This is one of the most common predisposing syndromes to colon cancer. The patient ended up getting a colonoscopy because of that test and found colon cancer, which they otherwise didn’t have any symptoms for. Because of that genetic test, we were able to find it at an early stage and surgically remove it before it was able to spread. This is just one example of many of why it is important to know your family history.”

Similarly to other types of cancer, early detection can dramatically change the outcome of colorectal cancer treatment for patients. However, those with symptoms may be farther along than those who find cancer during routine screenings.

“We know that people that are younger present at later stage of diagnosis,” Peterson said. “If caught early though, over 95 percent of people can have the cancer completely cured either by surgery or a combination of surgery and chemoradiation. At a later stage, the survival rate goes down over two and five years.”

The good news is colonoscopies are routine and relatively easy options for cancer screenings.

“A lot of people tend to come in very nervous, and that’s understandable. I’ve also had a colonoscopy and I was very nervous for it,” Peterson said. “But I’ll tell you that the worst part is always leading up to it. Afterwards, everyone usually always says: ‘That was it? Well, that wasn’t so bad.’ And they feel much more relieved to know they don’t have colon cancer or some polyp that could become colon cancer was removed.”

The lead-up to the colonoscopy includes drinking a solution that clears the bowels. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes, but the patient receives sedating medications to allow them to sleep and be comfortable during the procedure. Surgeons like Peterson insert a tube with a camera into the colon and remove any suspicious polyps that could turn into cancer. If no cancer is found, patients at normal risk of colorectal cancer don’t have to have another colonoscopy for 10 years. Those with a family history or higher risk of colorectal cancer usually can wait from three to seven years for their next colonoscopy.

“People often feel uncomfortable. That’s completely normal,” Peterson said. “But if you’re having issues or it’s that time of your life that you need a colonoscopy, you should not be stressed about it. Afterwards, that peace of mind is worth it.”

Peterson’s main piece of advice is this: Don’t be afraid of colonoscopies. Getting screened on time – or early if you’re at a higher risk or having symptoms – can help detect cancer early, which can lead to much better health in the future.

Take the first step to get screened by scheduling a wellness visit with your primary care provider. They can also make a referral to schedule a colonoscopy if you have symptoms, family history or previous health history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease.

Call your local clinic or make an appointment through My Sanford Chart. If you do not have a primary care provider, visit sanfordhealth.org to find one today.

In most cases, colorectal cancer screenings are paid for by your insurance. Don’t let concerns about money be the reason you delay colorectal cancer screening.