Episode 159: Understanding the Increase in Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses, with Samuel Akinyeye, MD The James Cancer-Free World Podcast

The number of younger patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer is on the rise. “We always used to say at age 50 get your first colorectal screening, and now we’ve dropped that to 45,” said Samuel Akinyeye, MD, an Ohio State gastroenterologist. “And the reason is we’re seeing younger people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer … I’m seeing younger patients in my clinic.” In this episode, Akinyeye discusses several of the reasons for the increase, including the impact of unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, and the role of family history and inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of colorectal cancer. “We’re eating more processed foods and greasy, fatty foods that are pro-inflammatory,” he said, adding obesity and inflammation increase the risk of cancer. He also talks about the importance of screenings, such as colonoscopies, and how they can reduce the number of colorectal cancer diagnoses and deaths. “Colonoscopies are the gold standard of screening,” Akinyeye said, adding they detect and pre-cancerous polyps that are then removed before they actually become cancerour and spread to other parts of the body. “Screenings save lives,” he said. Knowing your family history and discussing it with your primary care physician is vital. “We have a saying, that family secrets kill families,” Akinyeye said, adding people with a family history of colorectal cancer or even high-risk polyps should start screenings even earlier than 45. “People aren’t getting screened as early as necessary because they’re not aware of their family history.” Inherited genetic mutation, such as Lynch Syndrome, “greatly increase the chances of developing colorectal cancer and other types of cancer,” Akinyeye said.