Popular diets like Mediterranean, Keto, South Beach and The Zone are trendy for weight loss, sustainability and health benefits.

Some studies indicate plant-based diets lower the risk of chronic diseases such as colorectal cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

New research suggests individuals who eat more environmentally friendly foods may live longer and help to preserve the Earth.

Higher Diet Score Equals Lower Mortality Rate

The study references the Planetary Health Diet, developed in 2019 by the EAT-Lancet Commission.

This diet emphasizes filling your plate with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes. This plan also recommends eating smaller portions of meat, fish, eggs, refined cereals and tubers.

Researcher Linh Bui, MD, commented on the study in an American Society for Nutrition release. Bui is a PhD candidate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“We proposed a new diet score that incorporates the best current scientific evidence of food effects on both health and the environment,” Dr. Bui said. “The results confirmed our hypothesis that a higher Planetary Health Diet score was associated with a lower risk of mortality.”

Based on this diet plan, researchers created their own Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). The index looked at results from 100,000 people in two large U.S. studies. The data covered 30 years.

People with higher index scores had lower risks of death from cancer or cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disease and respiratory diseases.

The study discovered that following this diet plan’s food suggestions benefits the environment in multiple ways. It reduces greenhouse gases, land and water use, as well as nutrient pollution.

Schedule Your CRC Screening

Protecting the planet and protecting your health are important goals for everyone.

Did you know colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States? Everyone is at risk for this disease, regardless of age.

You can protect your colorectal health by eating a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding alcohol and not smoking. Experts agree the most effective way to reduce your risk of CRC is with regular screenings.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that anyone at average risk get screened for colorectal cancer starting at 45. If you have a family history of the disease or a history of precancerous polyps, get screened earlier. If you have digestive complaints, talk to your doctor regardless of your age. It is important you have troublesome symptoms evaluated.

Although stool tests are options for colon cancer screening, colonoscopy is the preferred method. During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist examines the entire length of your colon for polyps or abnormalities. Doctors can detect and remove precancerous polyps in the same procedure.

Our doctors perform colonoscopy screenings at ambulatory surgery centers around the country. Find a center near you and schedule this life-saving procedure for your health.

A recent study found the gut microbiome of colon tumors vary, depending on whether the patient was diagnosed with early-onset or late-onset disease.

Study finds difference in colon tumor microbiomes

According to new research from Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the microbiome of patients with colon cancer can differ greatly.

The research team found that the type and amount of viruses, fungi and bacteria in the colon tumors of patients varied significantly, depending on whether the patients were diagnosed with early-onset colon cancer compared to late-onset colon cancer.

Early-onset colon cancer incidence is rising.

Colon cancer rates have been decreasing in adults older than 55, partly due to increased screening for the disease. However, colon cancer incidence continues to rise in young adults. In the last 10 years, the number of adults younger than 55 with colon cancer has doubled, and the incidence rate has increased from 11 percent in 1995 to 20 percent in 2020.

Microbes and the intestinal lining

Scientists have known that microbes can cause inflammation in tissues, which can mutate DNA cells in the colon lining. They also are aware that a certain type of bacteria called Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nuc) can suppress immune response in the colon and make it more prone to cancer.

The study examined 917 types of fungi and bacteria in colon tumors. F. nuc was one of the most common types of bacteria, and it appeared in about 30 percent of both early- and late-onset colon tumors. The researchers were also able to categorize specific bacteria and fungi that were more common in early-onset tumors and late-onset tumors.

“Younger people with colorectal cancer have more biologically aggressive cancers, and whatever survival benefit they have by being younger is outweighed by the more aggressive tumor biology. We also know that for the most part, genetics doesn’t explain the recent rise in young-onset disease,” said Benjamin Adam Weinberg, MD. “But we have trillions of bacteria residing in our body, including in our gut, some of which are implicated in the development of colorectal cancer; hence, we think the microbiome may be an important factor in the development of the disease, as it is involved in the interplay between a person’s genetics, environment, diet and immune system.”

Dr. Weinberg is an associate professor of medicine at Georgetown Lombardi. He hopes the new study may provide insight on why young-onset colon cancer rates continue to increase. With the current findings and plans to continue the research, the team wants to continue to explore how microbiome and other factors influence colon cancer development.

Early detection and treatment of colon cancer

Because young-onset colon cancer is usually more aggressive, it is essential to be familiar with symptoms of the disease. Some symptoms of colon cancer include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding
• Weakness or fatigue
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Thin, pencil-like stools
• Weight loss

Call a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy.

If you are experiencing symptoms, you should see your physician. Your doctor may suggest that you schedule a colonoscopy. Although there are several types of colon cancer screening procedures, a colonoscopy is the most effective screening available because it can detect and prevent colon cancer.

Do you need help finding a gastroenterologist near you? Our GI centers are located nationwide. Call today to make an appointment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., but it is preventable through timely screenings.

Healthcare agencies recommend people at average risk for developing the disease get their first screening at age 45.

Many individuals choose a noninvasive, stool-based CRC screening option they can do at home. These tests are convenient, but they cannot diagnose polyps or tumors, and they cannot prevent colon cancer development.

Experts advise anyone who receives an abnormal stool-based test result to follow up with a colonoscopy within six months to diagnose colorectal cancer.

CRC Risk, Complications Increase

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, the results showed low follow-up screening rates in patients who had a stool-based screening test for CRC. In fact, 49 percent of the patients who received abnormal screening results did not complete the recommended follow-up colonoscopy within six months.

The mixed-methods cohort study used data collected between June 1, 2015, and June 30, 2021. The study included 32,769 individuals who were Black, White, Asian and Hispanic aged 50 to 75 years.

The results show 51.4 percent received a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based test within six months. The follow-up rate was 56.1 percent within 360 days.

Follow-up rates were lower with individuals who were Black or Asian, those on Medicare or Medicaid, and those who chose a FIT screening test (vs. mtDNA).

Jeff T. Mohl, PhD, from the American Medical Group Association in Alexandria, Virginia, and colleagues conducted the study and commented on the results.

“At-home stool-based testing offers a useful tool to supplement routine colonoscopy and reach a wider patient population. Nonetheless, it is important to emphasize that all positive stool-based tests must be followed by a timely colonoscopy to complete the screening paradigm,” the authors advised. “Not completing a colonoscopy after a positive [stool-based test] is associated with a significantly higher risk of CRC complications and mortality.”

When CRC is found at an early stage — before it has spread to other organs — the five-year survival rate is about 90 percent. If colorectal cancer is found early, it often allows for more treatment options, according to the American Cancer Society. It is important to note only about 4 out of 10 colorectal cancers are found at an early stage.

Get Screened at Age 45

If you are 45 and at average risk for CRC, it is important to ask your doctor about getting screened for colorectal cancer. Earlier screening is advised for patients with a family history of CRC or polyps as well as those with digestive symptoms that may be caused by CRC.

Several options are available, but colonoscopy is the only screening method that can both detect and prevent colorectal cancer. Although it is more invasive than other screenings, colonoscopy includes a complete examination of the large intestine. CRC often begins as a growth, called a polyp, inside the colon or rectum. Doctors can find and remove polyps during a colonoscopy before they become cancerous.

If you receive an abnormal stool-based test result, schedule a colonoscopy within six months. Failing to follow up or delaying the procedure may increase your risk of colon cancer and result in an advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis.

Quality care is available at our surgery centers around the country for your first CRC screening or a follow-up colonoscopy.

June is Men’s Health Month, and Men’s Health Week is June 12-18. This observance encourages men and their loved ones to make healthy choices that will benefit overall wellness. During the month of June, men can focus on getting regular exercise, eating nutritious meals and getting appropriate health screenings.

One of the most important preventive screenings is for colon cancer, including colonoscopy, which can detect and prevent colon cancer. Men should prioritize colon cancer screening like they do other preventive screenings, such as a prostate exam.

How common is colon cancer in men?

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in women and men. It is estimated there will be more than 106,000 new cases of colon cancer in 2023, as well as 46,000 cases of rectal cancer. The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 26 for women. However, certain risk factors can increase risk for the disease.

Symptoms and warning signs of colon cancer

Many myths surround colon cancer, one of which is that only older people get the disease. This is untrue. Anyone can develop colon cancer, regardless of age. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance reports 1 in 260 people will get colon cancer before they turn 50.

It is essential to know the symptoms of colon cancer:

• Abdominal pain
• Change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation)
• Blood in the stool

If you experience any of these warning signs, call your doctor.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men and women who are at average risk for colon cancer should start regular colon cancer screenings beginning at age 45. Those who are in good health should continue screening until 75.

Colon cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early, and colonoscopy is the most effective test. Colonoscopy is the only screening that allows a doctor to inspect the entire colon for polyps, which can become cancerous. Your doctor can remove any suspicious polyps during your exam and have them analyzed.

Early detection and early treatment

Have you ever had a colon cancer screening? A colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening, so talk to your doctor about scheduling an exam.

If you are not under the care of a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist, we can help. Our colon cancer screening centers are located all over the country, and our friendly staff is ready to meet your health needs. Celebrate Men’s Health Month by calling to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

May is Women’s Health Month, and we celebrate Women’s Health Week May 14-20. This initiative aims to encourage women to prioritize their wellness and help other women make healthy choices.

Colon cancer screening is essential to a woman’s health because most colon cancer is treatable when diagnosed early.

Importance of routine colon cancer screenings

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but many cases are preventable with regular screenings. Colonoscopy is the gold standard of colon cancer screening because it allows a gastroenterologist to examine the entire colon for polyps and abnormalities. Most polyps can be removed during the procedure, thereby preventing them from becoming cancer.

Younger people with later stage colon cancer

Although colon cancer cases are decreasing overall, colon cancer incidence continues to rise in younger adults. Research in 2019 found that adults younger than 55 comprised 20 percent of new colon cancer cases. Also, studies found the proportion of adults with later-stage colon cancer was 60 percent in 2019, compared to 52 percent in the mid-2000s.

No one knows why more young people are developing colon cancer.

“There is a lot of research going on,” said Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, senior vice president for surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society. “Some people say it’s probably obesity or changes in diet over the past decades that might be a reason, but really, we don’t know exactly what causes this rapid rise in colorectal cancer incidence rates.”

Routine colon cancer screenings prevent cancer

The best defense against colon cancer is screening. However, Dr. Jemal said only 4 out of 10 adults get screened at proper intervals.

“If we were to raise colorectal cancer screening up to 80 percent, we estimated tens of thousands of cases could be averted, and thousands of lives could be saved,” he said.

The recommended age for colon cancer screening is 45, but many adults are at risk for developing the disease earlier. If you have a family history of colon cancer or if you have a history of precancerous polyps, you may be able to get a colonoscopy earlier.

Make an appointment for a colonoscopy

Talk to your doctor about when to schedule a colonoscopy. Everyone is at risk for colon cancer, regardless of age. It’s essential to be familiar with warning signs of colon cancer, such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits or rectal bleeding. Colon cancer is more likely to be at a later stage when symptoms are present, so contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the warning signs.

Are you under the care of a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist? If you are looking for a physician, we can help. Our colon cancer screening centers are located across the country, and they are accepting new patients. Celebrate Women’s Health Month by making a colonoscopy appointment and saying “yes” to good health.

April is IBS Awareness Month. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have symptoms similar to colon cancer, so it is important to know the symptoms of GI conditions and visit your doctor in a timely manner to have those symptoms evaluated.

IBS affects 10-15 percent of the population, and up to 45 million Americans live with this GI condition. This disorder is usually characterized by abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel habits like chronic diarrhea, constipation or both.

Similarities between IBS and colon cancer

GI distress can be embarrassing and confusing. Sometimes knowing how long you should wait before calling a doctor is difficult. IBS symptoms can mimic other digestive problems like colorectal cancer. They can share similar symptoms and warning signs, such as the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Changes in bowel habits
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Cramping
• Constipation
• Bloating

You should not dismiss your symptoms or try to diagnose yourself. Instead, you may need a colon cancer screening to exclude colon cancer. Colonoscopy is the best colon cancer screening test because your doctor can view the entire colon and remove precancerous lesions, called polyps, during the exam.

Adults at average risk for colon cancer should get a baseline screening at 45, but those with a family or personal history of polyps may need to get screened sooner.

Find a gastroenterologist near you

Do you have recurrent abdominal pain and bowel problems? The first step is to call your doctor. If you are looking for a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist, we can help you find a doctor at one of our colon cancer screening centers. Don’t live another day with GI distress. Call today to make an appointment.

 

 

Did you know that colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States? But it doesn’t have to be. Most cases of colon cancer are preventable with routine screening. According to the American Cancer Society, colon screenings could prevent 60 percent of CRC deaths if people chose to get screened starting at age 45.

Education can help make prevention a reality, and that’s where you come in! March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. During this time, we can share with family and friends the importance of getting screened and adopting healthy lifestyle habits that decrease colon cancer risk.

Ways you can get involved

You can do your part to get involved and spread the word about colon cancer awareness. Even children can be advocates for this life-saving cause. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Donate money to a group that supports colorectal cancer awareness like Fight Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance or the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.
• Wear a blue ribbon or a blue shirt on March 3 — Dress in Blue Day.
• Talk with friends and family members about the importance of getting their first screening at age 45 (or earlier, depending on their family history). Also, make people aware that digestive symptoms should prompt investigation regardless of age.
• Join a fundraiser for a nonprofit or charitable group focused on colorectal cancer education and research.
• Host an educational seminar at your local church, office or nonprofit group.
• Ask past patients, survivors or past caregivers to share their stories with your group or organization.
• Reach out to a local media outlet to discuss the disease and its prevention on the air, in an article or editorial.

Young-onset colon cancer

When you speak to your family and friends, remind them they are never too young to develop colon cancer. Since the 1990s, colon cancer cases have increased in adults between 40 and 55. In 2020, about 12 percent of colon cancer cases occurred in adults under 50, and they were more likely to have advanced disease at their diagnosis (American Cancer Society®).

Everyone should know the warning signs of colon cancer. Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the stool
• Change in bowel habits
• Unexplained weight loss

Locate a gastroenterologist near you

Colon cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early, and colonoscopy is the most effective test. Are you up-to-date with your colon cancer screening? Or have you ever had a colonoscopy? The first step is to call your doctor.

If you are looking for a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist, we can assist you. Our colon cancer screening centers are located across the country. Be a good example and schedule your screening today!

A new study finds that few Americans know that all types of alcoholic beverages increase cancer risk, including colon cancer.

The research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed many adults believe wine and even liquor have health benefits.

Alcohol contributes to at least seven types of cancer, and colon cancer is one of the leading types, along with breast cancer and mouth cancer.

“Alcohol is a leading modifiable risk factor for cancer in the United States, and previous research has shown that most Americans don’t know this,” said the study’s lead author, Andrew Seidenberg, MPH, PhD, who conducted the study during a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.

According to Dr. Sidenberg, alcohol contributed to more than 75,000 cases of cancer and 19,000 cancer deaths per year between 2013 and 2016.

Americans Lack Awareness of Alcohol’s Link to Cancer

Dr. Seidenberg and his research team analyzed survey responses from a 2020 study of almost 4,000 adults. Participants answered the following question: “In your opinion, how much does drinking the following types of alcohol affect the risk for getting cancer?” The study recorded responses for beer, wine and liquor.

Some of the findings included the following:

• Less than half of Americans are aware that alcohol affects cancer risk.
• 31.2 percent of Americans were aware that liquor increased cancer risk, followed by beer (24.9 percent) and then wine (20.3 percent).
• Ten percent of American adults thought wine decreased cancer risk, while 2.2 percent thought beer reduced cancer risk and 1.7 percent thought liquor reduced cancer risk.

The study found older adults had lower awareness than younger adults that alcohol use can cause cancer. Dr. Seidenberg believes this disparity may be due to long-standing drinking habits in the older generation.

How Can I Prevent Colon Cancer?

All alcoholic beverages are linked to cancer. The more you drink, the higher your risk for colon and other types of cancer. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest men drink no more than two drinks per day and women drink no more than one drink per day.

The most effective way to prevent colon cancer is to schedule routine colon cancer screenings. Colonoscopy is the preferred method because your doctor can view the entire colon and remove abnormal tissue, called polyps, during the exam. If left intact, polyps may develop into cancer.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin screening at age 45. However, you should get screened earlier if you have a family or personal history of colon cancer or colon polyps. You may also require evaluation for possible colon cancer if you have digestive symptoms.

Locate a Gastroenterologist Near You

Are you up-to-date with your colon cancer screening? Have you ever had a colonoscopy? The first step is to call your doctor. If you are looking for a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist, we can help. Our colon cancer screening centers are located across the country, and our physicians are accepting new patients. Call today to make an appointment.