By Lisa Rowell
Dedicated to Jonathan
Thompson December 19, 1962 – November 15, 2014
Last year, the American Cancer Society estimated that more than 154,000 people in the U. S. would be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and of those, nearly 53,000 would die of the disease.
The ACS stated on its website that the number of people who have died from the disease has steadily decreased over the last several decades due to increased screening and lifestyle changes. Statistics from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance( CCA) show one in 24 people will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Although the average diagnosis for both men and women is age 66, statistics are showing that the disease is being detected more often in younger adults. The CCA reports that about 10 percent of cases are diagnosed in people younger than 50.
A 2023 paper published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians by the American Cancer Society, showed that colorectal cancer has become the deadliest cancer in men aged 20-49 years.
Actor James Van der Beek( of Dawson’ s Creek fame) died in early February of colorectal cancer at age 48. Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman succumbed to the disease in 2020 at age 43.
Closer to home, we lost many community members to the disease. Jonathan Thompson, who was known and loved by many, succumbed to the disease in 2014, one month shy of his 52nd birthday. He was an avid outdoorsman and cyclist. At the time, Kentucky had one of the highest colorectal cancer mortality rates in the U. S. according to CDC breakdowns.
Samir Cook, MD, and Angela Stinson, ARNP, of Gastroenterology Associates of Lake Cumberland, shared some insights and advice about the disease and general gut health. The practice, which is part of the Lake Cumberland Physician Practices network, is comprised of four physicians and five nurse practitioners with decades of extensive experience in an array of gastrointestinal disorders and diseases. Cook and Stinson are the most senior staff members. Office manager Vicki Burnett has been with the practice since its inception.
“ It’ s alarming, actually,” said Dr. Cook.“ Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide and the second leading cause of death of all cancers."
Dr. Cook said that screening
used to be recommended starting at age 50.“ Over the years, we ' ve seen an alarming trend in finding colon cancers in younger people. So, the task force has changed the screening guideline to start at 45,” he said.
Because of improved screening, Dr. Cook said one of the positives is the number of deaths from the disease is going down.“ But unfortunately, it ' s going up in younger people,” he said.“ So deaths are down, but diagnosis is up.”
Dr. Cook said that in the past, younger people weren’ t considered to be at high risk for colorectal cancer. He said they often did not correlate their symptoms with the disease, and were screened less often.
“ We’ re not quite sure why that is,” Dr. Cook said of the increase of diagnosis in younger people.“ Some different factors may be playing into this. One could be our diet, with more processed food and red meat.”
Dr. Cook said the obesity epidemic in the United States and more sedentary lifestyles could also play a role in developing the disease.“ We know that exercise actually decreases your risk of getting colon cancer, so more activity and a less sedentary lifestyle helps.”
Colorectal
Cancer: It’ s not just an older person’ s disease
Dr. Cook said smoking and alcohol consumption also elevate risk. He said Stinson refers to the Western lifestyle we’ re all accustomed to and how everything we eat comes in a package.“ We’ re really bombarded by that stuff, aren ' t we?” Dr. Cook said, referring to concerns that packaged foods are often loaded with hidden ingredients that are not the best for one ' s health. Cook and Stinson both agree that eating healthy can be a real challenge in today’ s world, not just in terms of available time, but also how expensive it is.
“ It ' s a struggle,” Dr. Cook said about trying to be more conscious of minimizing our risk for colon cancer.“ I understand it ' s really hard to shop healthy in grocery stores. Good, healthy food is pretty expensive.” Dr. Cook recalled feeling sticker shock when picking up a few items at a grocery store recently.
Stinson said it can be really difficult to cook fresh every day. With most people living busy lives and those with children often having after school activities and sports schedules to keep up with, grabbing a quick fast food meal on the way home can become habitual.
Dr. Cook said it’ s also difficult for patients with diseases involving gluten intolerance to find good options or to
24 • SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life March 2026