By knowing the symptoms of colorectal cancer and your family history of disease, as well as living a healthy lifestyle and getting checked on time, the odds of preventing young-onset CRC or catching it early, when treatment is most successful, increase.
Studies show that certain everyday behaviors can contribute to or help prevent colorectal cancer.
Enjoy a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in processed meats and alcohol.
A healthy weight reduces the risk of many cancers, including colorectal cancer. Regular physical activity is important for overall health.
Long-term smoking is associated with increased colorectal cancer risk, as reported in multiple studies.
It's been estimated that approximately 23-39% of patients with young-onset CRC have a family history of colorectal cancer.
If doctors discover that colorectal cancer runs in your family, they may suggest earlier and more frequent check-ups. This can help find and treat CRC early if it does appear.
A family history of CRC may suggest hereditary cancer syndromes like Lynch Syndrome which boost colorectal cancer risk. Genetic testing can offer insights and guide prevention.
People with a family history can work with doctors to make personalized prevention and monitoring strategies, including lifestyle changes and screening, to reduce CRC risk.
While colorectal cancer doesn't always produce symptoms, it's important to know what they are and seek answers if you have any of them.
Blood in or on your stool is a symptom of rectal cancer and colon cancer. The blood can be bright red, or the stool may be black and tarry or brick red.
These may include intermittent or constant diarrhea or constipation, a change in the consistency of your stool, or stools that are more narrow than usual.
Abdominal discomfort may present as cramps, gas, or pain. You may also feel full, bloated, or like your bowel is not completely empty.
On our free Helpline, patient navigators will discuss any concerns, including your symptoms, and provide guidance on what to do next. Call (877) 422-2030.
We know the incidence rate of young-onset colorectal cancer is rising, but what can we do? By taking action and taking control, we can help decrease these rising rates of young-onset colorectal cancer. Here’s how:
Seek medical attention accordingly. If you’re in the high-risk group or have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should be getting screened earlier than age 45. Start a conversation with your doctor now.
If something seems off with your body and your doctor isn’t acting on it, be a proactive patient and seek a second opinion (or more, if needed). Get answers. Physician-related delays, like missed symptoms or an initial misdiagnosis, have been estimated to occur in 15-50% of young-onset colorectal cancer cases.
The Alliance's screening quiz is a short series of questions that can help you know when to get checked and how.
Allies shared their stories and the vital need to end colorectal cancer in this video presented at the national Blue Hope Bash in November 2024. The video features Bash co-chair and patient Alison Friedman.
This year was the Alliance’s 25th year of impact, and we’re looking back on some of the milestones that made 2024 a year to remember.
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s national Blue Hope Bash, held November 2 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., raised nearly $2 million to support lifesaving work.