NAVIGATING THE FIRST 30 DAYS
Part 1
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Why Colon Cancer Is Rising in Younger Adults and Why Screening at 45 Mateers
Colorectal cancer awareness has taken on new urgency as cases rise among younger adults. During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, doctors and patient advocates are encouraging earlier screening, often beginning at age 45. Colon cancer is now one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, yet it is also one of the most preventable cancers when detected early through screenings such as colonoscopies.
When people hear the words colorectal cancer, they often imagine it as something that happens later in life. Something distant. Something that happens to someone else.
But the truth is shifting in ways that doctors, researchers, and patients are only beginning to fully understand.
Recently, the deaths of two beloved actors, James Van Der Beek and Catherine O'Hara, brought renewed attention to this disease. Both had colorectal cancer connected to their deaths. Their stories remind us that this illness does not always follow the patterns we once believed.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the second leading cause of cancer deaths, encouraging early screening, and honoring those affected. Health experts often recommend screening beginning around ages 45 to 50, noting that preventative tests such as colonoscopies remain one of the most powerful tools for detecting colorectal cancer early and saving lives. The month also highlights prevention, symptoms, and the critical importance of screening.
For me, this conversation is personal.
As you know, I live with a stoma after undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. That surgery saved my life. It also reshaped it. Today, I speak openly about living fully, confidently, and honestly after cancer because awareness can save lives.
Right now, awareness is urgently needed.
A Cancer That Is Changing Its Pattern
For decades, colorectal cancer was primarily associated with older adults. Screening programs have successfully lowered rates among seniors.
But something unexpected has been happening.
Cases are rising sharply among younger adults, even as they decline in older populations.
Here are a few important facts everyone should know:
· Rates are rising in adults under 50.
· For more than two decades, diagnoses in younger adults have steadily increased.
· By 2030, colorectal cancer is projected to be the number one cancer killer in adults under 50, according to American Cancer Society
· Many younger patients have no family history of the disease.
· Tumors in younger adults are often more aggressive, which means they are diagnosed at later stages and can progress faster.
· The rise is global. Countries adopting more Westernized diets and lifestyles are seeing similar trends.
This is not a small or isolated problem. It is a major public health shift.
Colorectal cancer is now the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer deaths..
Part 2
Why Younger People Are Being Diagnosed
Researchers are still working to understand exactly why this rise is happening.
Several factors are strongly suspected.
· Ultra-processed foods and low-fiber diets
· Obesity and metabolic dysfunction
· Chronic inflammation in the body
· Changes in the gut microbiome
· Alcohol consumption and smoking
None of these explanations alone tell the whole story. The reality is likely a combination of lifestyle, environmental, and biological factors.
What is clear is that the traditional assumption that colorectal cancer is an older person’s disease is no longer accurate.
Symptoms People Often Ignore
One of the biggest problems with early-onset colorectal cancer is that symptoms are frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed. Many younger patients are told their symptoms are caused by stress, hemorrhoids, or diet changes.
But there are warning signs that should never be ignored:
· Blood in the stool
· Persistent diarrhea or constipation
· Changes in stool shape or narrowing stools
· Frequent gas pains or abdominal discomfort
· Unexplained fatigue
· Iron deficiency anemia
· Unexplained weight loss
· The feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
If these symptoms persist for more than a few days or weeks, it is important to speak with a doctor and ask questions.
You know your body better than anyone.
Part 3
The Most Powerful Tool: Screening
There is a reason doctors emphasize screening so strongly.
Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can actually be prevented through screening.
During a colonoscopy, doctors can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer.
Studies have shown that colonoscopy screening can reduce the risk of death from colorectal cancer by as much as 69 percent.
Because of rising cases in younger adults, major medical organizations now recommend that most people begin screening at age 45, rather than 50.
For those with symptoms or family history, screening may need to happen even earlier.
You might be anxious about reintroducing food, scared of how your body will react. I remember feeling nervous about my first meal out with friends. It's also easy to feel tired and like you can’t do the things you used to.
Part 4
My Life After Surgery
My own journey with colorectal cancer changed everything.
Surgery resulted in a permanent colostomy.
At first, that reality felt overwhelming.
Over time I realized something powerful.
A stoma is not the end of life as we know it.
It is the continuation of life.
Today I travel, socialize, exercise, laugh, and live fully. My body works differently, but it works. For that, I am profoundly grateful.
That is why I share my story.
Survival should not be hidden.
Awareness should not be whispered.
Feeling panicked and thinking something is wrong is completely normal, especially in the beginning. It’s okay to call your doctor or nurse anytime you feel worried or have questions. They are there to help you, and no question is too small.
Part 5
The Message I Hope People Hear
If there is one message, I want people to take away, it is this.
Do not wait.
If something feels wrong in your body, investigate it.
If you are approaching 45, ask about screening.
If you have symptoms, insist on answers.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable and often curable when it is caught early.
But time matters.
The more we talk openly about this disease, the more lives we can save.
If my story encourages even one person to get screened sooner, it will have been worth sharing.
Sometimes the most powerful form of prevention begins with a conversation.
Part 6
Frequently Asked Questions About Colon Cancer
Q1) What age should you start colon cancer screening?
· Most medical organizations now recommend screening beginning at age 45 for people at average risk.
Q2 What are the early symptoms of colorectal cancer?
· Symptoms can include blood in the stool, persistent digestive changes, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal discomfort.
Q3 Can colon cancer be prevented?
· Yes. Colonoscopies can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer.