Mar 21, 2025
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Health
Colorectal cancer may not show symptoms, so colonoscopies are key
Colorectal cancer is a deadly disease — but many Americans aren’t up-to-date on their screenings. And without these screenings, people may never see a symptom until it’s too late, or until the cancer is more difficult to treat.
That’s why it’s so important for people to get colonoscopies.
Across the U.S. population, when looking at men and women combined, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death. For those under 50, it’s the leading cause, according to the American Cancer Society. The organization estimates 158,850 people will be diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer this year, and 55,230 people will die from this disease this year.
If you’re between the ages of 45 to 75, you should get a screening colonoscopy every 10 years; ask your practitioner for advice if you’re between the ages of 76 and 85. You may be eligible for a colonoscopy earlier, or potentially more often, if you have a family history or certain gastrointestinal symptoms.
However, there are often no symptoms in the early stages. If someone does have symptoms, they can include rectal bleeding, black and tarry stools, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and changes in the stool.
Not only can colonoscopies find colon cancer, but getting a colonoscopy is also the best thing people can do to prevent it. If a patient has a colonoscopy and polyps are found, these can be removed before they become cancer.
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To help reduce their risk of colorectal cancer, people can:
- Eat a high-fiber diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Limit processed and red meats
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay physically active
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
There are also risk factors that people can’t change.
- Age: The risk is more common upon reaching age 45, though colorectal cancer is becoming more common in younger people.
- Family history: If a first-degree relative has colorectal cancer or polyps
- A history of inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease
- Inherited diseases like familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome
- Race: In the U.S., African Americans, American Indians and Alaska natives are more at-risk.
If you’re 45 or older and haven’t had a colonoscopy yet, or if you’ve been putting your next colonoscopy off, it’s a good time to make your appointment. Talk to your primary care practitioner about getting a colonoscopy, who can then refer you to TidalHealth Gastroenterology. If you don’t already have a primary care practitioner, you can find one here.
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