ColonandRectalCancer

Healthy Men: Colon cancer: A growing risk for young men

Dear Healthy Men: When Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer a few months ago, I was surprised that he was so young — I always thought it was an old person’s disease. What are the risk factors for younger people, especially men?A: You’re absolutely right. Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 39 and died at 43 — far younger than the average person who is either diagnosed with or dies from that disease. In fact, the median age for men at diagnosis is 68 (vs. 72 for women).Overall, colorectal cancer (which includes both colon and rectal cancers) is the third most commonly diagnosed canc...

Colon cancer screening should start at age 45, not 50, top panel says

Colon cancer screening should start at age 45, not 50, according to a draft of new guidelines prompted by a rising incidence of colorectal cancer in younger people, a top medical panel said.The draft, published Tuesday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adds weight to previous recommendations, most notably the American Cancer Society, which began recommending lower-age screening in 2018.That means insurance companies are more likely to cover colonoscopies and other tests in those ages 45 to 49, NBC News noted.The task force is an independent and volunteer panel of national medical exp...