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PREVALENCE OF COLON CANCER IN OLDER MEN
by Dr. Hafeez
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Men over 55 years of age can be just as active and healthy as younger men. It may take a little more effort but exercising regularly for 150 minutes a week, eating a healthy diet, and getting the recommended health screenings routinely done can keep them healthy. Getting the screening test done at the right time is essential for a man to stay active and in good health. One of these screening is done to detect colon cancer.
Colon cancer is the colon or the rectum’s cancer, which is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus. Sometimes abnormal precancerous growths, called polyps, grow in the colon or rectum, turning into cancer over time.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Colon cancer can present with different symptoms. Its symptoms include a change in bowel habit, blood in or on the stool, feeling that the bowel has not emptied all the way, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
Sometimes, colorectal polyps and cancer do not have any symptoms, especially at first. It is possible for someone to have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know about it. That is why it is crucial to get screened regularly for colorectal cancer.
RISK FACTORS
Your risk of getting colon cancer increases as you get older. About 90% of cases occur in people who are
50 years of age or older. Several other factors can increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Some of these risk factors include having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or a genetic syndrome such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) or Lynch Syndrome.
Some lifestyle factors may also contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, which includes lack of regular physical activity, a diet low in fruit, vegetables, and fiber, and high in fats and processed meats.
Being overweight, consuming alcohol, and smoking are also some of the risk factors. It is essential to eliminate all these factors from your life to decrease your chances of developing colon cancer.
SCREENING FOR COLON CANCER
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends starting screening at age 50. In contrast, the American Cancer Society recommends that colon cancer screening should begin for men at 45 and continue till 75 years of age at regular intervals. Several types of screening tests are available to find polyps in the colon that could develop into colon cancer, such as Colonoscopy and Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT).
The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about 1 in 23 (4.3%) for men and 1 in 25 (4.0%). The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is slightly higher in men than in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that the number of new colorectal cancer cases in the United States for 2021 will be 104,270.
In the last few decades, the death rate from colorectal cancer has dropped in both men and women, and one of the likely reasons is regular screening. Colorectal polyps are now being found more often by screening and removed before they can develop into cancers. Developed cancers are get diagnosed earlier when they are easier to treat. Besides, treatments for colorectal cancer have improved over the last few decades. As a result, more than 1.5 million people have survived colorectal cancer in the United States. It is always good to diagnose the problem early as it could be lifesaving. You must get yourself regularly screened for colon cancer after 50 years of age to detect colon cancer early and live a healthy and fit life.
References: 1.https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-iscolorectal-cancer.htm 2.Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN 2008. Int J Cancer. 2010 Dec 15;127(12):2893-917. doi: 10.1002/ ijc.25516. PMID: 21351269. 3.Siegel, R.L., Miller, K.D., Goding Sauer, A., Fedewa, S.A., Butterly, L.F., Anderson, J.C., Cercek, A., Smith, R.A. and Jemal, A. (2020), Colorectal cancer statistics, 2020. CA A Cancer J Clin, 70: 145-164. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21601
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