Colorectal cancer diagnoses are on the rise, especially in younger patients. Here’s how to stay healthy!

With colorectal cancer rates on the rise and patients being diagnosed earlier, awareness and proper care are essential to staying healthy.

As surgical oncologists who specialize in treating colorectal cancer, we know it is critical for patients to be proactive.

Some patients ignore symptoms for months or even years. That can delay diagnosis and treatment, allowing cancer to become more advanced and harder to treat.

One of the biggest developments in our field is the new recommendation that average-risk patients start screening colonoscopies at age 45.

We realize people feel anxious about colonoscopy, but it is truly the gold standard because it both detects and prevents cancer. If we find a pre-cancerous polyp, we can remove it before it ever becomes cancer. Also, if your colonoscopy comes back clear, you only need to repeat it every 10 years.

If you are at high risk due to a family history of colorectal cancer or personal history of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or you have symptoms like rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel movements, talk to your provider about your screening needs.

In general, patients with a family history should start colonoscopies when they are 10 years younger than the age at which their family member was diagnosed. Some high-risk patients are eligible for genetic testing, too.

There are also new non-invasive screening tests, including stool tests, blood tests, and CT colonoscopy. These are better than nothing, but they can lead to false positives and aren’t as effective as colonoscopy for detecting pre-cancerous or early-stage tumors. Also, if you have a positive result with any of these tests, you still need a colonoscopy within nine months.

Along with screening, you can manage your risk through lifestyle.

There is strong evidence that regular physical activity and a diet rich in fiber, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables has a protective effect. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol, processed foods, and red meat also provide protection.

Meanwhile, treatment for colorectal cancer continues to improve.

New minimally invasive surgical techniques are improving survival rates and quality of life.

Regional One Health is the only hospital in Memphis with the Da Vinci 5 robotic surgery platform, the most advanced technology available. We can offer minimally invasive procedures for more patients, even those who previously weren’t good candidates.

Minimally invasive surgery involves very small incisions, so patients recover more quickly and often don’t need an overnight hospital stay. There are also endoscopic options for early-stage cancer that require no incision at all.

In medical oncology, certain subtypes of colorectal cancers respond to immunotherapy, which triggers your immune system to fight cancer.

Immunotherapy targets diseased cells while sparing healthy cells, so it is highly effective and often easier on the patient. Every patient diagnosed at Regional One Health undergoes genetic testing to see if they are a candidate for immunotherapy.

Our field continues to advance, with improvements in personalized screening, minimally invasive surgery, immunotherapy, and organ preservation on the horizon.

With greater awareness, screening, and treatment, we can help more patients survive and live healthy lives!

Learn more at Regionalonehealth.org/cancer-care or by calling 901.515.HOPE (4673).

David Shibata, MD, FACS, FASCRS, and Saloni Mehrotra, MD, are surgical oncologists with Regional One Health Cancer Care. They both specialize in treating colorectal cancer.

By David Shibata, MD and Saloni Mehrotra, MD