Your 40s are an important decade when it comes to being proactive about your health. It’s when metabolism begins to slow, which means you’ll want to pay extra attention to how you nourish your body. During this decade, bone and muscle loss start to accelerate, too, so if you don’t currently do any strength training, it’s a good time to start. You may also notice that it takes you longer to recover from workouts, prompting you to actually take the time to start stretching.
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Cancer risk changes in your 40s too. For most cancers, the risk is greater the older we get. That means if you haven’t been paying attention to when you should be screened for certain types of cancer, it’s time to get familiar with the facts. For example, for women at an average risk of breast cancer, 40 is the age to start routine mammograms to screen for breast cancer.
There’s another cancer screening that it’s crucial to stay on top of, starting at age 45. Doing so could save your life.
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The Cancer Screening You Should Get at 45
Here’s what changes at 45: According to the US Preventive Task Force and the American Cancer Society, 45 is when average-risk adults should begin regular colorectal cancer screenings. “Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in Americans under 50,” says Dr. Mike Cusnir, MD, the division chief of hematology and oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
The best way to protect yourself from colorectal cancer is to be screened for it by getting a colonoscopy. “Colonoscopy is extremely effective. It helps find cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, and it can prevent cancer altogether. During the procedure, doctors can find precancerous growths called polyps and remove them before they ever have a chance to turn into cancer,” Dr. Cusnir explains. To this point, research shows that colonoscopies decrease the risk of colorectal cancer between 40 and 69%.
While 45 is the recommended age to start getting colonoscopies to screen for colorectal cancer for people of average risk, people at high risk should be screened earlier. This includes anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps or if you have certain underlying health conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease. If you are under 45 and not sure if you should be screened for colorectal cancer early, talk to your doctor.
Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, FACS, MPH, the medical director of the gastrointestinal surgical oncology program at Jupiter Medical Center, says that the reason why it’s recommended that people of average risk for colorectal cancer get screened at 45 is that this gives doctors a chance to find precancerous polyps and remove them before they ever have a chance to become cancer, or to catch cancer at an earlier and more treatable stage.
Dr. David Bryan Stewart, Sr., MD, FACS, the chief of surgery and medical director of surgical operations at City of Hope Cancer Center in Chicago, says this too. “Colorectal cancer has been increasing in younger adults, which led experts to lower the starting age from 50 to 45. Research shows that screening from age 45 can prevent more cancers and save more lives, with benefits that outweigh the potential risks,” he says.
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Should You Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer if You Don’t Have Any Symptoms?
All three doctors emphasize that it’s still important to be screened for colorectal cancer by getting a colonoscopy even if you don’t have any symptoms. “Colorectal cancer often develops without any symptoms, which is exactly why screening matters. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer is more likely to be advanced,” Dr. Cusnir says.
Dr. Cusnir explains that among adults under 50, about 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, largely because there were no symptoms earlier. Putting it off only gives the disease more time.
That said, all three doctors say that if you are experiencing symptoms—which include blood in your stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or ongoing abdominal pain—you should get a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer no matter how old you are.
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What Does a Colonoscopy Entail?
For some people, it’s fear of the colonoscopy itself that causes them to put off getting screened. It may help to know what a colonoscopy entails; it’s likely a lot easier, quicker and less painful than you might think.
“A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure, typically performed by a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon. A thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and light is used to examine the inside of your rectum and your entire colon, up to where it meets the small intestine. Most patients are sedated, so they’re comfortable and don’t feel the procedure,” Dr. Cusnir says.
Dr. Cusnir adds that preparing for a colonoscopy is easier than it used to be. He says that it often starts a few days before, during which you have to avoid certain foods. Then, the day before the colonoscopy, it requires switching to a clear liquid diet and taking a prescribed medication to help empty the colon. “Once it takes effect, you’ll have frequent watery bowel movements. It’s not pleasant, but it’s one day, and it can prevent cancer,” he says. Recovery is minimal too. The doctors say it just involves taking it easy for the rest of the day.
If the colonoscopy itself is what’s holding you back from getting screened for colorectal cancer, Dr. Stewart says to talk to your doctor about other ways you can be screened. “Some people at average risk can choose an at-home stool test. Those tests must be repeated on schedule, and an abnormal result requires a colonoscopy. We can help you find an option that fits your health needs and your life,” he says.
Remember, colorectal cancer doesn’t have any symptoms in its earliest stages, which is what makes it so deadly and is why staying on top of screenings is important. You can drastically lower your risk by being proactive, and getting screened for colorectal cancer is the best way to do that.
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Sources
Breast Cancer: Screening. US Preventive Services Task Force. Colorectal Cancer: Screening. US Preventive Services Task Force. American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening. American Cancer Society. Dr. Mike Cusnir, MD, division chief of hematology and oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Don’t Give Up On Screening Colonoscopy. Cleveland Clinic. Screening for Colorectal Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, DO, FACS, MPH, medical director of gastrointestinal surgical oncology program at Jupiter Medical Center. Dr. David Bryan Stewart, Sr., MD, FACS, chief of surgery and medical director of surgical operations at City of Hope Cancer Center in Chicago.Hence then, the article about oncologists say 45 is a major turning point for cancer screening here s what changes was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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