3 Reasons To Get Screened Young For Colorectal Cancer

7 September 2021

Jaime Allen

Colorectal cancer will typically start off in the human body as polyps that develop in the colon or rectum area. Screenings are recommended to spot the polyps before the cancer forms. Typically, the CDC recommends regular colorectal cancer screenings at the age of 45, but some patients may need the procedure done sooner.

Learn three reasons you may need a colon cancer screening before the age of 45 and then follow through with a doctor if any of the situations apply to you.

1. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

If you have a condition that already affects your colon area, then you want to ensure the condition does not cause the growth of polyps. An inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis could inflame the area. A disease like Chron's disease could cause inflammation in your whole intestinal tract.

Even if you have medicine to treat the disease and reduce inflammation, you will want to do a screening just in case. Your doctor could recommend the treatment at any point before the age of 45, depending on your condition and how long you've had the disease.

2. Familial History

When you fill out paperwork at a doctor's office, it's important to know your family history, especially as it relates to colorectal and colon cancer. Colon cancer could run in families and it's important to detect and treat cancers early. Young screenings may be done on an annual basis, especially if you've had a parent or grandparent who had this kind of cancer.

A doctor may also recommend screenings if you have any direct family members who had polyps detected and removed. Prevention is key and early colon cancer screenings will help reduce the chances of precancerous polyps growing and spreading.

3. Genetic Syndromes

In some cases, a family history of colon cancer may not be the only reason you need an early screening. A doctor will also look for genetic syndromes that run through your family. One of the more common types a doctor will look for is familial adenomatous polyposis. Also known as FAP, the genetic condition involves disease and cancer of the colon.

If you have had previously taken genetic tests for FAP, the doctors could use the results of those tests to determine if you qualify for an early screening. The screening process varies and may include a number of different exams to ensure no polyps have formed.

Reach out to doctors if you seek an early screening and find ways to ensure you catch any conditions as early as possible.

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