NEW COLORECTAL SCREENING AGE CREATES BENEFITS FOR YOUNGER PATIENTS
In the United States , colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined , causing more than 50,000 deaths annually .
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month . As part of the goal to increase awareness of life-saving diagnostic services available to patients , St . Clair Health is sharing good news about preventative screening :
The American Cancer Society ’ s newest guidelines recommend colorectal screenings beginning at age 45 . Most insurance carriers have accepted and will cover colonoscopies at age 45 starting in January 2022 .
“ 30 percent of men and 20 percent of women will develop adenomas or precancerous polyps in their lifetime . Because we ’ ve been doing colorectal screening exams for average risk patients age 50 and older for the last couple of decades , the overall deaths for men and women have been dropping . But the overall death rate for the population under age 50 has been increasing 2 percent annually ,” says Mark A . Cedar , D . O ., Chief of Gastroenterology at St . Clair Health . “ And an even more glaring number that people need to know is this : the incidence of colorectal cancer for patients between the ages of 40 and 49 has increased 15 percent since 2002 .”
Increasing awareness is tied directly to how common the disease is , in addition to those rising risk factors for younger patients . Some symptoms of colorectal cancer that Dr . Cedar urges you not to ignore include :
• Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
• Changes in bowel habits
• Blood in the stool
• Bloating
• Anemia
While any and all symptoms should be taken very seriously and lead directly to scheduling your colonoscopy , Dr . Cedar is adamant about getting checked long before symptoms present . “ Most of the patients that we find advanced , precancerous polyps in — or even colorectal cancer — have no symptoms at all ,” he says .
Of particular note : younger patients may not present with the same symptoms as a patient of more advanced age — with abdominal pain being one of the presenting symptoms that Dr . Cedar is keeping a close eye on .
The reasons for choosing not to put off your preventative colorectal screening exam are abundant .
“ The sooner that we can diagnose and find these colorectal polyps , the better ,” Dr . Cedar says . “ Number one : they ’ re less likely to turn into colon or rectal cancer . Number two : colorectal cancers are generally slow growing to some extent , but they tend to snowball in both size and abnormal cell growth , so it ’ s best to find them before they have that opportunity . Number three : if I find precancerous polyps — and even some small colorectal cancers — during your exam , then I am often able to remove them endoscopically during your colonoscopy ,” Dr . Cedar says .
Achieving that kind of positive outcome is an obvious benefit for concerned patients . And urging you to be proactive about preventative screening stems from how big of a difference even 6 months can mean when it comes to your treatment options and their respective outcomes . “ Many patients have decided to defer their preventative screening exams during the COVID-19 pandemic , and we ’ re seeing the consequences of advanced polyps and cancers that we would likely have been able to resect ,” says Dr . Cedar .
“ I can ’ t emphasize enough how important it is to remain aggressive with listening to your body for any new symptoms as well as following the recommended preventative screening guidelines during these challenging times .”
To schedule your annual colonoscopy with Dr . Cedar , please call 412 . 232.8104
MARK A . CEDAR , D . O . Dr . Cedar serves as Chief of Gastroenterology at St . Clair Hospital . He earned his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at UPMC Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh . Dr . Cedar then completed his fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at AHN West Penn Hospital . He is board-certified in gastroenterology and was named a Top Doctor by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2021 . Dr . Cedar is affiliated with Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates .