Doctors share advice as colorectal cancer cases rise among young adults

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Doctors say colon cancer numbers continue to rise in the United States, especially among young adults. For Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, doctors and health experts are reminding you to stay on top of your health.

Colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people ages 20 to 49, according to the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Scott Daugherty, colorectal surgeon at Baton Rouge General, says people in Louisiana are at an even higher risk.

“Unfortunately, here in Louisiana we are one of the higher incidents of colon cancer states, and so we already see an increased number of colon cancer and we also are seeing it in younger individuals,” Dr. Daugherty said.

Dr. Daugherty says in recent years, the age for screening colonoscopies was moved up from 50 years old to 45. In fact, from 2022 to 2023, Baton Rouge General saw an 12% increase in colorectal cancer cases, and nearly half of those were at stage 3 or 4. Experts say diet may be a big factor.

“We don’t exactly know why, some of it is likely due to the American lifestyle. Y’know, processed foods, low fiber foods. Fast food type diets. But otherwise, we really don’t have a great explanation,” Dr. Daugherty said.

Dr. Daugherty says the scary thing is many people will not show any symptoms before getting diagnosed. Some early indicators could include abdominal pain, bloating, and blood in your stool or changes in its size. He says it is also important to know your family history.

“If you do have a family history you may be at increased risk. So, talk to your parents, talk to your family members and find out if there’s a family history,” Dr. Daugherty said.

While there is no direct reason for the rise in young adults, Dr. Daugherty recommends practicing healthy habits to best increase your chances of avoiding developing colon cancer.

“It’s not something you start right away with, but I do think eating a healthy diet, eating a high-fiber diet, living a healthy lifestyle, exercising, can potentially help decrease your risk,” Dr. Daugherty said.

On March 13, Baton Rouge General is having a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month event where you can walk through a blow-up colon and learn about screening and symptoms. The event lasts until 12 p.m.

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