If colon cancer runs in your family, it could affect your colon cancer screening age – the age when you should begin getting screened for the disease.

How Family History Affects Colon Cancer

About one in every twenty-five adults will develop colon cancer, making it the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Most colon cancer develops independently, but five to ten percent of colon cancers have a genetic component. Therefore, family history is is a significant risk factor in developing colon cancer. If you have a first-degree relative who has had colon cancer, you should be screened at age 40 or ten years before he or she was diagnosed, whichever is earlier.

According to a new study examining adults aged 40 to 49, most cases of colon cancer could have been discovered earlier if patients were screened using family history-based screening guidelines.

Samir Gupta, MD, of the VA San Diego Healthcare System and the University of San Diego, and other researchers analyzed data on patients between the ages of 40 and 49. Among the patients, 2,473 had colon cancer and 772 did not. Dr. Gupta determined 25 percent of patients with colon cancer and 10 percent of patients without cancer qualified for earlier screening based on family history. Over 98 percent of patients with colon cancer who met the requirements should have gotten screened at a younger age than they were at cancer diagnosis.

“Our findings suggest that using family history-based criteria to identify individuals for earlier screening is justified and has promise for helping to identify individuals at risk for young-onset colorectal cancer,” explained Dr. Gupta. “We have an opportunity to improve early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer under age 50 if patients more consistently collect and share their family history of colorectal cancer, and healthcare providers more consistently elicit and act on family history” (Medical Xpress).

Your Colon Cancer Screening Age

If colon cancer runs in your family, talk to your gastroenterologist about your colon cancer screening age. Due to increased screening measures and compliance, colon cancer incidence among adults over 50 is declining. This is good news, indeed. However, young-onset colon cancer continues to rise. Recently, the American Cancer Society lowered its recommended age for baseline colon cancer screenings from 50 to 45 for all adults at average risk for colon cancer.

Many insurance companies will not cover colon cancer screening until 50, but talk to your doctor about getting tested anyway.  Even if your insurance company does not cover the exam, it is worth your time and money if it prevents cancer.

Know the Symptoms of Colon Cancer

You are never too young for colon cancer, so it is essential to know the symptoms of the disease. Make an appointment with your gastroenterologist right away if you experience:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the stool
• Changes in bowel habits
• Anemia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss

Staying well during the coronavirus pandemic is important, but are you sacrificing your colon health by delaying what could be a life-saving colonoscopy? You may think staying at home is a way you can do your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but having a colonoscopy is a basic form of preventive care that could save your life. Getting screened for colon cancer is a gift you can give your family because it means you will be present for years to come.

Colonoscopies and Colon Cancer Prevention

Your lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in five, but most colon cancer cases are preventable with regular colonoscopies. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to examine the entire colon and remove any suspicious polyps before they can develop into cancer. Therefore, a colonoscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic; it can detect and prevent colon cancer. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, removing cancer-causing polyps during a colonoscopy can lower the risk of death from colorectal cancer by 53 percent.

Even though research proves colonoscopies save lives, millions of Americans are not getting screened at proper intervals. As a result of COVID-19, colorectal screenings dropped significantly in 2020, with an 86 percent decline compared to averages before February 2020. This screening disruption translates to more undiagnosed cases of colorectal cancer for longer periods. Up to 10,000 more deaths are projected over the next decade as a consequence of postponed screenings.

Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines

The American Cancer Society suggests all adults who are at average risk for colon cancer have an initial colon cancer screening at 45 years of age. Some individuals are at higher risk for colon cancer due to family history, so talk with your GI doctor about whether you should begin screening earlier than this. It is also essential to be aware of the risk factors associated with colon cancer, including:

• Age
• Polyps (growths inside the colon and rectum) that may become cancerous
• A high-fat diet
• Family history of colon cancer or polyps
• Inflammatory bowel diseases involving the colon
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Obesity

Don’t Delay in Scheduling Your Screening Colonoscopy

Although many surgery centers were closed during COVID, most have resumed regular hours. Surgery centers must follow rigorous safety standards and protocols. You can feel confident that your center will take the necessary precautions to sanitize the facility and all equipment.

We all have loved ones who need us in their lives – those who rely on us and can’t wait until we can all safely gather together again once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. You owe it to your family to prioritize your health.

Give those who love you peace of mind by scheduling a screening colonoscopy today.

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but most cases are preventable with routine colonoscopies. According to AMSURG, a leading national healthcare group, more than 200,000 colonoscopies were missed in 2020. Therefore, it is essential to schedule a colon cancer screening for early detection and treatment.

March is Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month, a time to learn how to prevent and detect colorectal cancer. Anyone can develop colon cancer, regardless of age, gender or fitness level.

Begin Colon Cancer Screenings at Age 45

Medical consensus is building for Americans 45 and older to receive routine screenings for CRC. The American Cancer Society lowered the recommended screening age from 50 to 45 in 2018. In 2020, the United States Preventive Services Task Force shared a draft recommendation to lower the screening age to 45.

Because of this new guidance, all individuals who are at average risk should begin routine screenings at age 45 and not delay essential screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When detected early, CRC can be easier to treat, and patients often have better outcomes. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 150,000 people will be diagnosed with CRC in 2021. Although the rate of people diagnosed with CRC has dropped in recent years, incidence among young adults is increasing. According to AMSURG data, pre-cancerous polyps have been found in one out of every four patients who have undergone a colonoscopy since 2019.

Every Month Counts with Colon Cancer

“Every year, every month counts with CRC,” said Brenda Thompson Green, AMSURG employee. “Four years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 46. Had I been encouraged to get screened a year earlier, there’s the potential that I could have had a much more positive outcome and not required such intense treatment. I am alive today because I listened to my body, sought the appropriate care and received a screening colonoscopy at the suggestion of my physician. Until the screening age is more broadly accepted, I cannot stress how important it is for people to know their family history, understand the symptoms and not delay care.”

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a comprehensive procedure in which physicians can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous. Colonoscopies are instrumental in helping people maintain their health and quality of life.

CRC does not disappear during a pandemic. In 2021, more than 200,000 patients missed their colonoscopies, and based on statistical expectations, approximately 900 of these people would have CRC.

It is essential to be aware of the symptoms of colon cancer: a persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, persistent abdominal discomfort like cramps, gas or pain, or a feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.

Schedule Your Colonoscopy at a GI Center

The best decision you can make this month is to educate yourself and your family about the importance of a quality colonoscopy. Our surgery centers and physicians are ready to serve you with compassionate, quality care. Call today to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. One simple procedure could save your life.

According to an article in the New York Times, current events are turning up the heat when it comes to heartburn. More Americans are using prescription and over-the-counter heartburn medicine to manage stress and reflux, resulting in nationwide shortages of acid reducers.

Why Are More Americans Getting Heartburn?

Physicians are noting more patients complaining of heartburn and acid reflux. Quarantine and stay-at-home restrictions have caused many people to turn to comfort food like alcohol and sweets, leading to heartburn. Poor eating habits and reduced exercise has also caused Americans to gain weight, another contributor to reflux.

Depression and anxiety are also on the rise. With stress due to COVID-19, job loss, remote learning and feelings of isolation, the general uncertainty about the future has taken its toll on Americans, causing a phenomenon known as “Pandemic Stomach.”

Benefits and Side Effects of Antacids

Antacids like Tums, Alka-Seltzer and Rolaids can help manage isolated episodes of heartburn, but they cannot treat long-term acid reflux symptoms. Overuse of antacids can cause side effects such as:

• Stomach cramps
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Metabolic changes

Further, acid-reducing drugs such as Pepcid, Zantac, and Prilosec may help manage reflux symptoms, but chronic use should only be considered under the direction of a physician, particularly a gastroenterologist.

Implement Healthy Habits to Replace Heartburn Medicine

Before reaching for an antacid or acid-reducer, try some of these natural remedies to soothe symptoms of reflux and heartburn:

1. Watch your diet. Avoid foods that are spicy, acidic, fried or high in fat. Limit your intake of chocolate and caffeine.
2. Eat small meals. Avoid overeating, and finish dinner at least two to three hours before bedtime to optimize digestion.
3. Get daily exercise. Excess weight places pressure on the stomach and can cause acid reflux. Talk with your doctor about a healthy weight loss or weight maintenance plan to help you feel your best.
4. Avoid heartburn triggers. Quit smoking and limit alcohol to special occasions.
5. Try natural remedies. Talk with your doctor about natural therapies like ginger root, aloe vera and apple cider vinegar for digestive health.

Make an Appointment with Your GI Doctor

If you experience heartburn every week, it is time to take action and call your doctor. Your GI specialist can help find the source of your heartburn and help you find permanent relief.

According to recent research, a high-sugar diet could be one of the main culprits for an increased incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine found that sugar, especially glucose contained in high fructose corn syrup, may be a key contributor to increased number of IBD cases.

Hasan Zaki, Ph.D., professor of pathology, and a group of researchers from UT Southwestern analyzed how sugar affects mice’s gastrointestinal tract. The team fed a group of mice a high-sugar diet and discovered these mice developed more intense colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel condition.

A high-sugar diet also affected the protective lining of the intestine. The research team found sugar promoted gut-damaging bacteria’s growth that caused a thinning of the protective mucosal lining of the intestine and initiated inflammation. Furthermore, sugar caused good bacteria like Lactobacillus to decrease (Medical Xpress).

What is Colitis?

Colitis is a general term for an inflamed colon. It can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two specific conditions: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD is more common in Western countries, and this may be due to poor eating habits. The Western diet contains high amounts of sugar, fat and animal protein, which can inflame the GI tract. Is there a link between the invention of high fructose corn syrup in the 1960s and the rising number of IBD cases? Dr. Zaki thinks it is a strong possibility. “Our study clearly shows that you really have to mind your food,” he said.

Dr. Zaki plans to continue his research and study how sugar may affect the development of other inflammatory conditions like obesity, fatty liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Who is Most at Risk for IBD?

Past research shows dietary changes can profoundly affect the gut microbiome. However, some people are more at risk for IBD. Some of the risk factors for IBD include:

• Family history of IBD
• Lower socioeconomic status
• Less than a high school level of education
• Smoking (Crohn’s disease only)

Talk to your Doctor

Undiagnosed IBD can cause permanent damage to your digestive tract and increase your risk of colon cancer. If you are experiencing symptoms of IBD, call your doctor and schedule an appointment to evalute your complaints. Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist who might schedule a colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist will evaluate your colon’s health during your colonoscopy and diagnose conditions like IBD, diverticulitis, or colon polyps (which can be removed and prevent the development of colon cancer). If necessary, you can begin a treatment plan right away.

Resolve to make colon health a priority in this new year. Preventing colon disease is easier and less expensive than treatment, so call today.

African Americans, especially under 50, are at higher risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer and dying from the disease than Caucasian Americans, according to a new study from Colorectal Cancer.

The average lifetime risk of colon cancer is one in 20, but colon cancer risk varies among races and ethnicities. Race has a profound influence on colon cancer survival rates. African Americans are more likely to develop the disease and die from it.

African Americans Under 50 at Greatest Risk

In cooperation with the Medical University of South Carolina, Kristen Wallace et al. studied more than 1,000 patients diagnosed with colon cancer for survival based on race and risk of death in two age groups: patients under 50 and those over 50.

African Americans under 50 were more likely to die of colon cancer than Caucasian Americans under 50. In patients over the age of 50, race did not affect colon cancer survival rates. The study also discovered tumor location played an important role in colon cancer survival in younger African Americans.

The study’s authors hope the results will help doctors target patients who require aggressive treatment and monitoring. They also say they must do further research on how the location of colon tumors influences patients’ responses to treatment.

Young-Onset Colon Cancer Incidence is Rising

According to a 2019 article in Cancer, young-onset colon cancer in the United States is rising. One out of every three new cases of colorectal cancer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is in a patient between the ages of 18 and 50. Young colorectal cancer patients are more likely to be diagnosed in stage 3 or 4 because they are unaware of the disease’s signs and symptoms (The Scientist).

Schedule Your Colonoscopy to Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. In 2020, an estimated 104,610 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer and 43,340 will be diagnosed with rectal cancer (American Cancer Society).

Most cases of colon cancer are preventable through routine colonoscopies. Colonoscopy is the gold standard of colon cancer prevention because it can detect and prevent colon cancer in a single procedure. Your doctor can remove any suspicious polyps before they can develop into cancer, making a colonoscopy a life-saving screening.

The American Cancer Society’s colon cancer screening guidelines suggest adults begin screening at age 45. However, individuals with a family history of colon cancer should get screened earlier. Talk to your doctor about when you should get screened for colon cancer.

Drinking coffee could extend survival time in patients with colorectal cancer, according to a new study published in JAMA Oncology.

Fifty percent of Americans drink coffee, cappuccino, espresso or lattes, and 64 percent admit to drinking at least a daily cup of java. The National Coffee Association says coffee consumption is increasing, and new research suggests daily coffee could enhance colon health.

Coffee and Colon Cancer

Researchers at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found drinking a few cups of coffee per day was associated with increased survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (colon cancer that spreads to other parts of the body). The study also associated coffee drinking with a decreased risk of cancer worsening.

Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee produced similar results, and patients who drank more than four cups of coffee per day experienced more significant benefits.

While the study establishes an association between coffee and reduced risk of colon cancer spreading and colon cancer death, it is not a cause-and-effect relationship. The good news is that drinking coffee is not detrimental to colon health.

Kimmie Ng, the senior author of the study, said, “Although it is premature to recommend a high intake of coffee as a potential treatment for colorectal cancer, our study suggests that drinking coffee is not harmful and may potentially be beneficial.”

How to Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about one in 20 or four or five percent.

There are many ways that you can prevent colon cancer:

1. Know the risk factors for colon cancer, including your family history.
2. Know the symptoms of colon cancer.
3. Understand the screening methods for colon cancer. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon screening because it can detect and prevent cancer in a single procedure.
4. Select a qualified gastroenterologist with a high adenoma detection rate (ADR).
5. Get screened at recommended intervals.

The American Cancer Society recommends all adults who are at average risk for colon cancer begin screening at age 45. Individuals with a family history of the disease or who exhibit certain risk factors may need to get screened earlier.

Call your gastroenterologist today to schedule a colonoscopy exam. Preventing colon cancer is easier and less expensive than treating the disease, so call today.

A new Swedish study finds drugs like Viagra may help prevent colon cancer in men as well as improve the prognosis of patients with the disease.

Research from Region Skåne and Lund University in Sweden found potency-enhancing drugs like sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, can prevent colon cancer and keep it from spreading.

Viagra is one of many potency-enhancing PDE5 inhibitor drugs that have anti-cancer properties. Wuqing Huang, a Ph.D. student at Lund University, and his research colleagues studied data on how PDE5 inhibitors affect mice with colon tumors. They wanted to conduct a study on how the drug affected colon growth in humans.

Dr. Huang used national registers to identify Swedish males with colon cancer who also used PDE5 inhibitors. He found the risk of colon cancer death was reduced by 18 percent among patients who used potency-enhancing drugs. Furthermore, he found colon cancer was less likely to metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body, in patients who used PDE5 inhibitors.

How can Viagra and potency-enhancing drugs help prevent cancer growth and spreading? It seems that surgery can cause immune suppression, but Viagra and similar drugs help protect the immune system. Dr. Huang explains, “The results of our study suggest that the anti-cancer ability of PDE5 inhibitors might be related to regulating immunosuppressive effects. However, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm our research findings before PDE5 inhibitors can be used as an adjuvant drug for men with colorectal cancer, as well as experiments that explore the underlying biological mechanisms.”

Prevent Colon Cancer by Getting a Colonoscopy

Viagra and potency-enhancing drugs may have some benefit, but they are not sufficient to prevent colon cancer. The best way to prevent colon cancer is to eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and schedule routine colon cancer screenings.

A colonoscopy is the most effective screening because it can prevent detect and prevent colon cancer. During a colonoscopy your gastroenterologist will examine the entire colon and can remove precancerous colon polyps so they do not develop into cancer.

Know the Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer incidence is increasing among young adults. American Cancer Society researchers found half of all new cases of colon cancer are in adults under the age of 66. We cannot continue to view colon cancer as a disease that only affects the elderly population.

No matter your age, you should familiarize yourself with the symptoms of colon cancer. These may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Rectal bleeding
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Anemia
• Unexplained weight loss

Often, colon cancer does not have any symptoms in the early stages, so talk to your doctor about when you should get screened for colon cancer. Most adults at average colon cancer risk should get a baseline screening at age 45 (or 40 for African Americans). However, family history and personal health history could place you in a higher-risk category.

Make an appointment with your gastroenterologist to discuss your colon cancer risk. Your life could depend on it.

‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer at age 43 has underlined the importance of colon cancer screening at age 45, according to a New York Times article.

Colon Cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. for both men and women. Yes, most colon cancer cases still arise in a majority of older people, but young onset colon cancer continues to rise 2 percent annually in people under age 50, according to the American Cancer Society.

Several risk factors determine each person’s susceptibility to colon cancer, such as obesity, diabetes, smoking or a family history. Rates of colorectal cancer are also higher in Black communities. From 2012 to 2016, the rate of new cases in non-Hispanic Black people was 45.7 per 100,000, about 20 percent higher than the rate among non-Hispanic white people and 50 percent higher than the rate among Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. However, risk factors are not an indicator of whether someone has or will have colon cancer, thus colon cancer screenings should be a priority for everyone.

The American Cancer Society recommends screenings at age 45 for those at average risk of colon cancer. For those at high risk, the ACS recommends screening at age 40, or 10 years before the age of diagnosis of the youngest relative who had the disease.

The ACS reported that only 58 percent of adults aged 50 to 64 from are undergoing colon cancer screenings in 2017 to 2019, and that was before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on U.S. communities. According to a publication by the Epic Heath Research Network, screening appointments for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colon cancer decreased by 86 to 94 percent in March 2020, compared to screening rates between January 2017 and January 2020.

Schedule a Colonoscopy, Pandemic or Not

Colonoscopy is the only procedure that can detect and prevent colon cancer. Some people are choosing Cologuard or other at-home colon cancer screening tests, but this test misses 8 percent of all colon cancer instances and may produce false positives.

Many people assume that health insurance will cover both the at-home colon cancer screening test and any subsequent colonoscopy needed if a positive result arises, but that’s not the case.  Health insurance will either cover the at-home test or a colonoscopy. If the person who chooses an at-home test receives a positive result, they will need a diagnostic colonoscopy, which will not be covered by their plan since they chose the at-home test as their original screening choice. Thus, bypassing the at-home test and scheduling a colonoscopy is the best way to save time, money and prevent colon cancer.

If caught early, younger people have a 94 percent five-year survival rate.  For people with late stages of the disease, the survival rate can be as low as 20 percent. Early diagnosis, is the difference between life and death.

Colon Cancer Symptoms:

• bloody stool or bleeding from the rectum
• constipation, diarrhea or a change in bowel habits
• dark sticky feces
• feeling anemic
• abdominal pain or cramps
• nausea or vomiting
• unexplained weight loss

Whether you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us and schedule a colonoscopy if you are aged 45 or older or meet any of the aforementioned risk factors.  It could mean the difference between life or death.

Colon and breast cancer incidence may increase by 10,000 over the next decade, according to a recent article in the Washington Post. Because of coronavirus quarantine measures, thousands of life-saving, preventive screenings were canceled or postponed.

Colon and breast cancer cause one-sixth of all cancer deaths. Norman “Ned” Sharpless, Director of the National Cancer Institute, fears pandemic-related delays in cancer treatment could result in a dangerous increase in cancer death.

Sharpless asserts even a short disruption in screenings could result in a one percent increase and almost one million deaths from these cancers over the next decade. Doctors fear new cases of colon cancer could go undiagnosed for longer periods of time and could result in tumor detection at a later stage.

Although colonoscopy is not an elective surgery, most surgery centers began halting colon cancer screenings in March due to the pandemic. According to a publication by the Epic Heath Research Network, screening appointments for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colon cancer decreased by 86 to 94 percent in March 2020, compared to screening rates between January 2017 and January 2020.

Patients and hospital systems are resuming preventive screenings and testing, but it is difficult to measure the impact of delayed services. Austin Chiang, a gastroenterologist in Philadelphia, said, “On a global scale, it’s a lot of screening procedures being deferred — and maybe some cancers that could develop in this time, as well.”

What are the Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines?

The American Cancer Society recommends all adults who are at average risk for colon cancer begin screening at age 45. Even though Medicare and many insurance carriers do not cover colonoscopies until age 50, it is important to get screened. When discovered early, the survival rate of colon cancer is up to 90 percent.

Talk to your doctor about colon cancer screening recommendations so you can get screened at proper intervals. It is also wise to call your insurance provider to receive the most updated information about your plan.

Schedule your Colonoscopy Today

Did you miss your colonoscopy because of COVID-19? If so, reschedule your colon cancer screening as soon as possible. Your overall lifetime risk for developing colon cancer is five percent, and the disease rarely presents with symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, it is imperative to take action based on the recommended timeline.