By Dr. Brett Ruffo
Though March was designated Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the urgent need for Suffolk County residents over the age of 45 to schedule a regular colorectal cancer screening must remain at the forefront of health conversations.
Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States. It is also one of the deadliest. According to the American Cancer Society, 106,970 new cases of colorectal cancer are estimated to occur this year, with an estimated 52,550 deaths. Of particular concern is that while overall deaths from colorectal cancer have declined, cases and deaths among young people have increased.
According to the New York State Department of Health, deaths from colorectal cancer among people younger than 50 have risen in the U.S. by 1.2 percent each year from 2005 to 2020. In addition, more than 1 in 10 new cases occur in people younger than age 50.
Recent studies also have indicated that adults born in the 1990s are diagnosed twice as often as other decades due to environmental and dietary changes, as well as technological advancements that help doctors detect cancer at earlier stages.
Considering these alarming trends, the recommended age to start colorectal cancer screening was lowered from age 50 to 45.
Screening is the most effective tool available to treat colorectal cancer. It can enable doctors to isolate the cancerous cells before they spread, in many cases.
However, fewer people are getting tested early. That’s why we need to do all we can to raise awareness in communities throughout eastern Suffolk County to encourage residents to get screened as early as possible.
According to the American Cancer Society, there is a 91 percent five-year survival rate if the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage. On the flip side, if colon cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, there is a 14 percent five-year survival rate.
There are multiple screening options available to eastern Suffolk County residents. The first is a colonoscopy, which is a common procedure conducted in an outpatient office, an ambulatory surgery center, or in a hospital. This test uses a colonoscope to look for changes in the large intestine and rectum, including swollen or irritated tissues, polyps or cancerous cells.
Another is a stool-based screening test that can easily be done at home. The stool is collected and mailed to a lab for testing.
Early detection is the most effective life-saving tool and should be available to all, insured or not. That’s why the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County at Peconic Bay Medical Center offers regular cancer screenings to help detect a problem in its earliest stages, increasing the chance of survival.
In addition, if cancer is detected, CSP will help guide Suffolk County residents without insurance through the cancer treatment process.
While colorectal cancer typically starts with a polyp — an abnormal growth that can grow in various locations inside the body — most colorectal cancers are also asymptomatic. Therefore, waiting for symptoms to form before scheduling a screening could be too late.
Some symptoms patients should be aware of include abdominal pain, change in bowel movement, blood in the stool and fatigue.
Several lifestyle choices, such as adjusting your diet, could be made to lessen the chance of developing colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more prevalent in patients who often consume high concentrations of processed foods. In addition, sedentary, inactive lifestyles tend to correlate with higher cancer rates. Along with any other cancer, smoking, drinking, and obesity are all risk factors to be mindful of. Also, one in three people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members who have also had it.
With such a large number of predicted cases, I emphasize getting a screening and staying up to date with your colorectal cancer screenings. Early detection saves lives.
Dr. Brett Ruffo is a colorectal surgeon at Peconic Bay Medical Center.
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