Understanding Early Onset of Colon Cancer
- A professional dancer, 31, says after experiencing severe stomach pains such as cramping and vomiting, she discovered she had a melon-sized tumor in her colon. She was diagnosed with stage 2 colorectal cancer, which required surgery and chemotherapy for treatment.
- A study published in the medical journal “Cancer” highlights the increased cancer incidence rate among younger people and points to environmental factors such as processed foods and obesity as contributing factors for the rise in cancer among people under 50.
- Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera examines the colon and rectum. Screenings are recommended beginning at age 45.
- People at higher risk of cancer, such as people with a family history of the disease, may want to ask their doctors about genetic testing to assess their risk better.
A 31-year-old professional dancer says before she was diagnosed with colon cancer, her worst fears involved missing a dance step. However, after battling cancer, Rachel Secrest says, “That stuff almost doesn’t matter.”
Secrest is among an increasing number of people under 50 impacted by colon cancer. Once baffled, experts over the concerning trend are beginning to put added focus on lifestyle habits as a possible explanation for the early onset of cancer.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramSecrest has been dancing since she was a young girl.
“I was pretty good at it, and I started dancing more and more,” Secrest told New York Presbyterian Hospital.
As she grew up, she continued to study and improve her craft. Once an adult, she moved to New York to continue her pursuits as a professional contemporary dancer. Then, last summer, she started experiencing severe pain, specifically severe cramps and vomiting, which sent her to the hospital.
After undergoing tests, including a CT scan and receiving a colonoscopy, which scans for colon cancer, Secrest was diagnosed with stage 2 colorectal cancer.
“I was told they found a mass in my colon,” Secrest said.
The tumor was four to six inches in diameter or roughly the size of a small melon.
“My mind went many places [when I was told I had cancer],” she added.
Among her worries was how cancer treatment would impact her ability to continue dancing.
She underwent treatment, which included surgery to remove the tumor. After surgery, she underwent chemotherapy.
“The side effects I had while on chemotherapy were fatigue, which was tough, and hand-foot syndrome” (a chemo side effect that causes a burning sensation on the hands and/or feet), she said.
“I got blisters all over my feet. But I went to the gym and did physical therapy exercises to get my strength back,” Secrest described while stressing her deep desire to return to dancing.
Less than a year after her diagnosis, Secrest still dances. However, she’s more thoughtful about her performances and life in general.
“When you are a 20-year-old getting on stage, it feels like life or death when you don’t hit that step or if you fall out of that turn. It feels like it is the worst thing that can happen to you. After going through cancer, that stuff almost [doesn’t matter]. It is about being more vulnerable and authentically yourself,” Secrest said.
Expert Resources on Colorectal Cancer
- ‘You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment’: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
- 5 Possible Signs of Colon Cancer; Don’t Be Afraid to Look in the Toilet!
- Alcohol Intake Has a Big Impact on Colon Cancer Surgery
- Can The Stuff In My Gut Cause Cancer? There May Be a Link to Increased Rates of Colon CancerHere’s What The Experts Say
Colon Cancer and People Under 50
A recent study published in the American Cancer Society’s medical journal “Cancer” draws attention to obesity among younger populations as a possible reason for a higher colorectal cancer incidence rate.
“Colorectal cancer was the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women younger than 50 years in the late 1990s but is now first in men and second in women,” the study says.
WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.
The researchers suggest environmental factors, including the availability of processed food and obesity stemming from sedentary lifestyles, as possible reasons for the cancer rate increase.
A 2018 study published in JAMA Oncology addressed obesity as a risk factor for early-onset colorectal cancer among women. Within the study that included more than 85,000 women, obese participants who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 nearly “doubled risk of early-onset colorectal cancer compared to women with a BMIN of 18.5 to 22.9.”
The latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Adults aged 18–24 had the lowest prevalence of obesity (20.5%) compared to adults aged 45–54, who had the highest prevalence (39.9%).”
More on Colon Cancer Appearing More in Young People
The average age people are diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society.
The National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s, colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50. Research published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.”
“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” cancer epidemiologist and lead study author Rebecca Siegel said.
Researchers are still trying to determine why younger people are being diagnosed in more significant numbers. Some experts point to risk factors, which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking, as a possible explanation for the increase.
“We don’t know for sure why we are seeing earlier onset and death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo explains.
WATCH: How Doctors Look for Polyps.
Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera is used to examine the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45. If you have several family members who had colon cancer or family members who got it at a young age (less than 50 years old), it may be necessary to undergo genetic screening.
Understanding the Signs of Colon Cancer
Colon cancer starts when polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don’t have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early, Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
The American Cancer Society and the American Gastrointestinal Association recommend that colorectal screening begin at age 45. However, it would be best to discuss your screening timeline with your doctor.
Colon cancer symptoms and warning signs include:
- Change in bowel movement
- Bloody stool
- Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling the bowel does not empty completely
- Unexplained weight loss
- Constant abdominal pain or cramps
If you notice symptoms or changes in your body, you must promptly discuss them with your doctor.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
- What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
- If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
- What support services are available to me? To my family?
- Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
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