Rising colon cancer rate sparks concern

By Andrea Shin, University of California, Los Angeles Colon cancer symptoms usually don’t arise until later stages of the disease, making routine screening imperative for prevention. Valiantsin Suprunovich/iStock via Getty Images More than 53,000 Americans are projected to die from colorectal cancer this year. Although colorectal cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, it can be cured if caught early. Detecting a tumor as soon as possible can help you get treatment as soon as possible, giving you the best chance for survival. In my work as a gastroenterologist, I treat patients from every background and walk of life. Uniting them are a growing number of insurance barriers threatening access to timely care. All too often, payers take a long time to make coverage determinations, or they even deny them outright. With the alarming rise of colorectal cancer diagnoses among Americans under 50, it is more important than ever for people to know their cancer risk and when to get screened. Here are common questions I and other gastroenterologists get from patients about colorectal cancer: What is my colorectal cancer risk? Anybody at any age can develop colorectal cancer. However, some people may be...