Experts warn younger people not to dismiss symptoms such as rectal bleeding as diagnoses rise for those under 50+

Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in the US for people under 50, according to a new analysis from the American Cancer Society, prompting both experts and those in that age group with the disease to warn others to take certain symptoms seriously.

Becca Lynch, who works in cyber security in Denver, Colorado, was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year, when she was just 29. At first, she assumed her symptoms couldn’t be anything serious: “I chalked it up to stress,” she said.

Now, she is careful to describe her symptoms in great detail, not because they’re fun to talk about, but because she doesn’t want other people to miss the signs.

  • klugerama
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 month ago

    Whew! Just turned 50, glad I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

  • reabsorbthelight
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 month ago

    People say to get checked early. How do we do that for colorectal cancer?

        • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          1 month ago

          Colonoscopy is now an industry. There are times when it is prudent but it is invasive and dangerous and certainly overused.

        • HeyJoe
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 month ago

          If you are in the US I dont think they are covered unless theres an absolute reason for it or when you turn 45 for some people and 50 for everyone else. Like usual, so glad they get to dictate the absolute bare minimum for us.

      • reabsorbthelight
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 month ago

        Great! I totally understand the need for colonoscopy, but I’m glad there’s a non invasive option, because they can be done more regularly