Colon Cancer's Continued Grip on Younger People
- A 37-year-old North Carolina high school teacher and football coach had been experiencing back pains for months until a colonoscopy helped discover he’d been dealing with stage 4 colon cancer.
- Data 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.
- Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum).
- 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.
A beloved North Carolina high school math teacher and football coach says he’d been taking more than a dozen painkillers to help ease what he thought to be nagging back pain. However, his life changed after learning the root of his problems was stage 4 cancer.
Jordan Tucker, 37, is among a concerning yet growing list of people younger than 50 to be diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. More than a year into his cancer journey, the father of three is doing his best to remain positive.
Read MoreAlthough Tucker did not reveal details of his ongoing treatment, he’s nearly a year and a half into his metastatic colon cancer journey.
WATCH: Not All Stage 4 Colon Cancer Patients Are the Same
Metastatic (stage 4) colon cancer means that the cancer has spread beyond the colon to other parts of the body, which may include the liver, lungs, and the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). Depending on where the cancer has spread, treatment options vary.
“For patients with late-stage cancer but without blockages– so if they aren’t obstructed, what we try and do is get them to chemotherapy first,” colorectal surgeon and surgical oncologist Dr. Heather Yeo tells SurvivorNet.
“The first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer, if they’ve not seen any other chemotherapy before, is the standard FOLFOX. Most colon cancers do respond to FOLFOX,” Dr. Yeo added.
WATCH: Managing Stage 4 Colon Cancer
If chemotherapy does not work, more treatments are explored, which may include surgery or a combination of these options may be recommended.
“There are very diverse options, and it really depends very much on where the recurrence has taken place,” Dr. Daniel Labow, Chief of the Surgical Oncology Division at Mount Sinai Health System and a board-certified surgeon, tells SurvivorNet.
“If it came in the liver and there’s one spot, that patient with surgery could be cured, even 50%, 60% of the time. If it’s all over the body, obviously, it’s more difficult to treat,” Dr. Labow added.
Coach Tucker’s wife, Andrea, praises her husband for his positive attitude towards his cancer journey.
“His outlook is so good, and he doesn’t worry, and it helps me not worry,” Mrs. Tucker said.
Expert Resources on Colorectal Cancer
- ‘You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment’: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
- A Coffee Enema Will Not Prevent Colon Cancer
- 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
Younger People and Colon Cancer
Data 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.
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%).”
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. Yeo said.
“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo continued.
What to Know About Colon Cancer Screening
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. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years.
WATCH: How Doctors Look for Polyps.
“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.
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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