Father's Diagnosis Raises Risk for Jonas Brothers
- Nick, Kevin, and Joe Jonas are at elevated risk for colon cancer due to their father’s 2017 diagnosis.
- Having a family member with colon cancer, as well as age and lifestyle, increases your likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease yourself.
- Colon cancer can be detected and even prevented through regular colonoscopies. Knowing when to start screening could save your life.
In March 2017, the famous brothers learned their father,Kevin Sr., had been diagnosed with colon cancer at just 52 years old. After having a large cancerous mass removed from his colon, he had chemotherapy and several more surgeries before entering remission in December of the same year.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramSince family history plays a big part in one’s risk for colon cancer, their father's battle means they need need to be vigilant about screening for the disease. Doctors recommend that people with a family history should start being screened ten years earlier than the age at which their family member was diagnosed, meaning the brothers should start being screened at 42. The screening age for someone with no family history or other risk factors is 45.
Since his recovery, Kevin Sr. has become a national spokesperson for the advocacy group Fight Colorectal Cancer while continuing to support his sons through their musical reunion earlier this year.
Am I at High Risk for Colon Cancer?
Over 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year. Together with rectal cancer, it is the third most common form of cancer in both men and women. It’s crucial to know if you might be at higher risk for the disease so you can form a prevention plan with your doctors.
People like the Jonas brothers who have a family history of colon cancer are at a higher risk of developing the disease. One out of every three people diagnosed with colorectal cancers have a family member who also had the disease.
Age is also a risk factor: 90% of cases are found in people over the age of 50, but younger people can be diagnosed as well.
Lifestyle factors like a lack of exercise, frequent alcohol, tobacco, or meat consumption, and obesity can also put a person at elevated risk for the disease.
Knowing the symptoms of colorectal cancer are critical to catching the disease early. Consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
- Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
- Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Screening for Colorectal Cancers
Colorectal cancers can be detected with a colonoscopy, which is a test that uses a camera attached to a long, thin tube to check for polyps (small abnormal growths) throughout your colon and rectum.
Related: You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment”: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
By removing these polyps before they become cancerous, doctors can actually prevent colon and rectal cancer before they happen.
Most experts agree that you should take a colonoscopy every ten years beginning at age 45, while those at high risk should be tested sooner. People who have already undergone the procedure and have been found to have growths should be checked more frequently to ensure that cancer doesn’t develop.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.