More than 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year, according to data from the American Cancer Society, making colorectal cancer a leading cause of disease and death. The good news: Recent changes to screening guidelines aim to help more people get tested for the deadly disease.
As leading providers of state-of-the-art colon surgery, the team at Desert West Surgery recommends regular cancer screening using the most recent guidelines to help patients reduce their cancer risks. Here’s what they want you to know about the recent guideline changes and how they could affect your health.
Like all medical guidelines, screening guidelines for colorectal cancer are reviewed periodically to ensure they meet the needs of the current population. The colorectal cancer guidelines underwent a recent change in part because of an alarming trend: Colorectal cancer is becoming much more common among younger people.
Colon cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths have been steadily rising among people under age 50, and today, colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death among young people. In light of this change, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently amended their recommendations for screening, lowering the age for initial screening from 50 to 45.
In addition, new recommendations recognize the utility of noninvasive test options for people at low risk of colorectal cancer. These tests use a stool sample to look for trace amounts of blood or changes in your DNA, two potential signs of cancer or precancerous growths called polyps. The sample can be collected at home and mailed to a special lab for analysis.
These changes in screening guidelines aim to make testing more accessible and convenient for people who don’t want to undergo a traditional colonoscopy. Lowering the age also means more people become eligible for screening that’s covered by their insurance.
That said, colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detecting cancer in its earliest stages and even detecting and removing polyps that could become cancerous in the future. Colonoscopy is also recommended for anyone with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer, including people with a family history of the disease.
The new guidelines recognize that colorectal cancer screening is a personal choice that requires a more individualized approach. Suppose you’re under age 50 or have been avoiding screening because you don’t want to have a colonoscopy. In that case, the guidelines also provide essential options to help you get the screening you need to save your life potentially.
Bottom line: Regular colorectal cancer screening identifies cancer early when treatment is most successful. To find out when you should be screened and which type of test is appropriate, call Desert West Surgery and schedule a visit at the Las Vegas location nearest you.
