Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Increase Your Colorectal Health Knowledge 

During March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month offers a time to discuss the benefits of colorectal cancer screenings and how to better protect our colon health. Dr. Veronica Jarido provided colorectal facts.

Colorectal Cancer Trends in 2026

“The numbers are increasing and we are finding cancer in younger individuals and in women. Cancer deaths have also increased, and colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in people younger than 50,” said Dr. Jarido. 

Individuals who have a family history can be at risk of colon cancer. It can be genetic. Additionally, people who have a history of polyps are another high-risk group because they “may make more polyps.” 

“Another group of patients that are high risk are people who have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease for greater than equal to eight years because the prolonged inflammation can be a primer for colon cancer,” said Dr. Jarido.

Discuss Colorectal Issues with Your Doctor

Dr. Jarido stated that blood in the stools is abnormal and should be addressed immediately. 

“Hemorrhoids can cause blood in stools, but it is better to know this and not guess. The second would be a change in your bowel habits, such as new constipation, thin stools, or the presence of pebbles. When someone has a new iron deficiency,  part of the workup is to rule out colon cancer. Lastly, an unexplained weight loss, though broad, is something that one should definitely bring up to their physician/GI doctor.”

Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk

Additionally, find out if your parents’ siblings have a pattern of colon cancer.

“To reduce the risk of colon cancer, first know your family history, especially of your parents and siblings,” according to Dr. Jarido.  

 Diet can also influence your colorectal health. 

“Diets that are highly processed or ultra-processed foods, low in fiber, and high in fat are risk factors for colon cancer. Eat a more balanced, natural diet such as a high fiber, low fat diet accompanied with adequate water intake,” Dr. Jarido added. “Drink lots of water and exercise.”

“JAMA has recently published that overly processed and ultra-processed foods, sugary foods, processed meats, and red meats are big contributors to the contribution of colon cancer,” Dr. Jarido said. “Another factor is reducing excessive alcohol use and stopping cigarette smoking completely.”  

The Colonoscopy

The gold-standard test for colorectal cancer screening is colonoscopy. 

“It involves drinking a colon solution that will clean out the bowels. I will be honest here; it isn’t pleasant, but it is necessary. Stool can hide polyps that can go on to become cancer, so I would always encourage patients that this is only for 24 hours. Also, people are not able to eat anything other than a clear, liquid diet on the same day they are prepping. On the day of the actual procedure, patients will not be awake or remember once the procedure starts. When they wake up, patients will often feel the same way they did when they went to sleep,” said Dr. Jarido.

Sometimes discomfort from gas occurs.

“We have to use a gas to open up the colon to see polyps. This will go away with ‘passing gas.’ Patients are able to go home the same day,” Dr. Jarido added.

Cologuard https://www.cologuard.com/faq is an at-home colon cancer screening test.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Factors and Ages

“People who have a family history, such as first-degree relatives or several second-degree or beyond relatives, have a high risk of developing colon cancer. They should get screened at the age of 40 or 10 years before the age of the family member was diagnosed, whichever one comes first,” Dr. Jarido stated.

Individuals who have inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) need to start screening for colon cancer after having the condition for eight years.  However, the average individual will start his or her screening at 45 years old. This age is the current guideline for everyone.

Is colorectal cancer curable?

“The earlier the stage the cancer is found, the more likely there will be remission,” Dr. Jarido stated.

People who have had colon cancer are still at an increased risk for recurrence. Dr. Jarido added that they must still undergo more surveillance colonoscopies than the average person. Read https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2844189 and https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2842580 to learn more about recent colorectal cancer trends.Follow Dr. Jarido via https://www.instagram.com/ladydocofbuttsandguts on Instagram.