March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about one of the most preventable yet deadly forms of cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., but with early detection through regular screenings, it is highly treatable. This month, healthcare organizations, advocates, and survivors come together to emphasize the importance of screening, healthy lifestyle choices, and research advancements in the fight against this disease. By spreading awareness and encouraging proactive healthcare, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month aims to save lives and promote better long-term health.

We spoke with Dr. Jondavid Pollock, chief and director, Radiation Oncology at WVU Cancer Institute at Wheeling Hospital to get more insight on colorectal cancer and what we can do to prevent or catch the disease for the best possible outcomes.

As of 2024, there have been 153,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States and 53,000 deaths. The data shows that 1 out of 24 men will get colorectal cancer in their life and 1 out of 26 women will. There have been some concerning trends in recent years, as more younger people are being diagnosed with the disease. The incidence is also increasing in young women, patients with a family history of the disease, smokers, and patients with Lynch Syndrome.

“Since 1990 there has been an increase in other GI tumors such as gastric and pancreas in younger patients, so one could deduce this may be due to something we are eating or drinking,” says Dr. Pollock. So far, research has not indicated a clear reason for these new trends, but ongoing studies seek to determine a cause.

There are a few factors that increase a person’s chances of developing colorectal cancer. As mentioned, people with Lynch Syndrome have an elevated risk of several cancers. This syndrome is caused by genetic mutations and usually doesn’t cause any problems until cancer develops. Other factors include inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, above modest alcohol consumption, excess body fat, and a typical unhealthy western diet. Family history of first-generation early onset colorectal cancer can also increase risk.

Though there’s nothing you can do to change your genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise, as well as eating a healthy diet are factors that you can control that can decrease your chances of developing this disease.

The main goal of celebrating Colorectal Cancer Month is to raise awareness of the disease and to education people about the most important way to improve the outcomes of colorectal cancer: early detection. Early detection through screening is crucial for successful treatment. New guidelines recommend screening to begin at the age of 45 because of the rising rates in younger patients.

The good news is that we now have more options for screening that have been developed in recent years, and catching this cancer early leads to the best outcomes. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard of screening and is recommended every ten years starting at age 45 for patients with average risk. For those with family history of the disease, colonoscopy is recommended every 5-10 years depending on age and number of affected family members.

There are other tests that can help screen for colorectal cancer, such as fecal blood tests, sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy and DNA and RNA stool tests. Cologuard is a stool-based test that screens for colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. This is a noninvasive test that can be done at home. Though not as reliable as colonoscopy, Cologuard can be used in between colonoscopies or for patients who are resistant to invasive screening. There is also the probability of even more accurate screening tests to be available in the future.

“These non-invasive techniques, though inaccurate (miss between 5-8% of cancers), have significantly increased screening rates in patients hesitant to under endoscopy and many articles have indicated that screening remains a more important tool than treatment in improving survival rates related to CR cancer,” says Dr. Pollock.

As for treatment, surgery remains the principal form of treatment for curative colorectal cancer. For more advanced cases, preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used. If the cancer is determined to be incurable, these treatments can be used to reduce spread and as palliative care.

Therapy and improved screening and a decrease in smoking has resulted in a 55% decrease in colorectal cancer related deaths in men and a 60% decrease in women since 1980.

You can do your part to spread awareness during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and help improve early detection and better outcomes. Schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about your risks and how to start screening for colon cancer. You can also start the conversation with friends and family to share knowledge about prevention, screening, and treatments. Together we can change the future of this disease.

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