PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — What did you eat today? Colon cancer is on the rise in young adults and doctors believe our diets have a lot to do with that.
Colorectal cancer is now the number one cancer killer in men under 50 and the number two cancer killer in women under 50, after breast cancer.
“I would say probably the top three to five risk factors include obesity,” said Riverside Health System Gastroenterologist Dr. Jamila Wynter.
Wynter said being overweight, physically inactive and eating a diet high in processed foods and red meats increase your risk.
“We think it’s because our digestive system really isn’t meant to digest foods that are unnatural,” she said.
Those processed foods tend to be the junk foods many of us crave: potato chips, pies and pastries, microwave meals and cheese.
“They tend to have high trans fat, high cholesterol and they tend to be high in sugar,” Wynter said. “And all of these things have been known to feed cancer cells.”
Smoking and drinking alcohol also increase risk.
Doctors believe American’s diets and lifestyle choices are fueling an astounding trend of colon cancer being diagnosed in younger adults.
That’s why the American Cancer Society now recommends colonoscopy screenings starting at age 45 for most people, younger if you have a family history.
“If you’re having symptoms that are abnormal, including rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habit, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia, that’s unexplained,” Wynter said, “those are all indications to get a colonoscopy as well.”
While there is no sure way to avoid colon cancer, screenings can find abnormal cells before they become cancer. So don’t put off your colonoscopy when it’s time.
Eating more fruits and vegetables and getting outside and active are further prescriptions for avoiding colon cancer and living an overall healthier life.
