TRI-CITIES, Wash. – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and according to The American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death for both men and women.
Dr. Luay Ailabouni, A Colorectal Surgeon at Kadlec, said early detection is key when it comes to treating and even curing this type of cancer.
He said people most commonly receive a Colorectal cancer diagnosis at 66. When comparing the percentage of diagnoses in younger people, he said the number of people younger than 55 that have it has almost doubled since the 1990’s.
He also said the age recommendation has changed to 45 for getting a colonoscopy pre-screening, something not every insurance provider has caught up with.
“If you diagnose them early and you know, I mean, as early as a polyp and you can remove the polyp, you’re preventing that polyp from progressing into cancer,” he said.
Early detection is also important because it can prevent this cancer from spreading to other parts of the body, according to Dr.Ailabouni.
He said studies have shown lifestyle choices statistically increase or decrease the risk of getting it.
Obesity, uncontrolled diabetes and lack of exercise can all increase your risk for colorectal cancer.
“A lot of lifestyle things that patients do, for example, diet. So food that is high in red meat or high in processed food that can increase your risk,” he said.
He said smoking is also a risk factor for colorectal cancer in addition to other cancers.
