Colorectal cancer: Not an old person’s disease
in Denver

I need to tell you something that might save your life. The rates of early-onset colorectal cancer are steadily increasing with a remarkable 2% rise annually in people under the age of 50 over the past two decades. Colorectal cancer is now the number one cause of cancer death in men under the age of 50 and the second leading cause for young women. And that’s exactly why the screening guidelines were changed.

We moved the screening age from 50 to 45, and the results speak for themselves. We are now finding 50% more early onset cancers, those that are completely treatable when found with a colonoscopy.

But here’s the concerning part. Only one in three people in this age group are actually being screened, meaning two-thirds are missing the opportunity for early detection that could save their life.

If you’re 45 years or older, don’t wait. Schedule your screening colonoscopy. And if you’re under 45 and experiencing concerning symptoms such as abdominal pain, change of bowel habits or rectal bleeding, you need to be seen sooner. It’s a 30-minute procedure that could save your life.