Colon cancer screening might come sooner than you think if the recommendations of Korean researchers are adopted. According to the researchers, if you've got a larger waistline and are in your 40s, you've more than doubled your risk of developing precancerous cells in the colon. In fact, the chances of finding an abnormal cell during screening is just as likely in younger men who had more belly fat as it is for slimmer men over 50. Because of this the researchers call for lowering the age of colon cancer screening from 50 to 45 years old for those who have weight problems.
Colonoscopy, for those who don't yet know, involves the insertion of a slim, flexible tube into the rectum. You are typically given medication to keep you comfortable, relaxed but awake during the procedure. The tube inserted during the test has a camera at the tip so that the doctor can see inside the colon. Unusual cell clumps can be identified and removed. Today such screening is only recommended for those under 50 if a first degree relative (mother, father, brother, sister) develops colon cancer at a young age.
U.S. experts argue it's too soon to change the recommendations for screenings we use today. Looking at age and risk factors is a reasonable approach, but we must remember that most colorectal polyps don't turn into cancers. The chances that a polyp will turn into cancer continues to be a matter of debate, and it's still hard to know whether removing them in younger patients would truly lower the risk of developing this form of cancer for life.
The Korean researchers examined over 1,700 men and women (40-59 years old) who had no signs of colon cancer, and no family history of the disease. They underwent screening colonoscopy as part of their employer provided health benefits. One in 40 of those under 50 had late stage polyps, but no one had cancer. Two of those over 50 did have cancer, with late stage polyps almost two times as likely in this age group. To find such a polyp, the researchers calculated they'd have to test 23 of the subjects who were in their 50s.
That number was the same in younger subjects who had bigger waistlines, and even lower in those with metabolic syndrome. The suggestion is that it might be reasonable to offer colon screenings to these people - younger but with larger waistlines.
This work substantiates what was previously suspected - that the larger waistline might be taken into consideration when choosing when to offer a screening, but that more work is needed before anyone is going to suggest colonoscopy at age 45.
If you're concerned about your own colon cancer risk, and you're carrying excess belly fat, getting in shape is your top priority. A diet rich in fruits, veggies, low fat dairy and fish has been linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer and will certainly help you manage your weight effectively. You will also want to stop smoking, and not drink to excess as these behaviors have also been linked to a higher risk of this type of cancer.
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