By now, you know that prevention is the first line of defense when it comes to diseases like cancer. So you do your breast self-exams, and you get your moles checked by your derm every year. But now, it’s time to start paying closer attention to what’s winding up in your toilet bowl, too.
According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, there’s been a steady uptick in the number of colon and rectal cancers among younger people—even as those numbers have been dropping among older Americans.
Researchers found that people born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950. There’s been an uptick in younger people being diagnosed since the mid 1980s—while during the same time period, rates of the disease among adults over the age of 55 dropped.
Why is this happening? Well, researchers still aren’t sure. “It could be related to stress, or diet or other behaviors; more research is being done to help us understand the rise,” says Lisa Ganjhu, clinical associate professor, division of gastroenterology and liver diseases, NYU Langone Medical Center.
The news is especially worrisome for women, since colon cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women, right behind breast cancer and lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But there is good news: Colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, so if you notice any of these symptoms (and especially if you have a family history of the disease), book an appointment with your M.D., pronto. If she’s concerned, she may order a colonoscopy or other imaging to take a closer look at what’s going on.