The average age for colon cancer diagnoses is getting younger, and doctors now recommend people get screened at age 45.
Mara McDermott, nurse practitioner in the colorectal surgery division at CHI Health, said in a colon cancer awareness Q&A on Wednesday that only one in three U.S. adults are up to date on their colon cancer screenings.
“A lot of people are still under the impression that colorectal cancer screening begins at 50,” McDermott said. “This is a new thing in the past few years, that 45 is the recommended screening age.”
McDermott says 30% of colorectal cancer cases are now found in people under 55. She said a colonoscopy is the best way to prevent and diagnose colon cancer. Colonoscopies for those ages 45 and older are usually covered by insurance.
“Colonoscopy is always going to be your gold standard,” McDermott said. “It's 95-98% effective at catching cancers but also preventing them. So, in a colonoscopy, we can find the cancer, but we can also remove polyps.”
Polyps, or abnormal growths in the colon or rectum, can become cancerous if ignored. Colon cancer doesn’t always appear with symptoms right away, but there can be signs.
“Red flag symptoms would be rectal bleeding, unexplained anemia, abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, changes in bowel habits, or sometimes just a general sense of malaise,” McDermott said.
Those most at risk have a personal or family history of polyps, colorectal cancer, genetic disorders or inflammatory bowel diseases.
Amy Softley, an emergency room nurse in Kearney, had no warning signs or family history of colon cancer. She was diagnosed last March after a colonoscopy.
“I was just assuming that this was just going to be a screening, and they were going to come in and say, everything looked great, and ‘see you in 10 years,’” Softley said. “It was shocking.”
Softley says she got her colonoscopy because she wanted to make sure she was healthy for her children.
“I think you have to find your why and just suck it up and do it.” Softley said. “And you know, it's not pleasant, but it's worth it, and I couldn't be happier that I did.”