Doctor praises cancer test rule

Increased early incidents of colorectal cancer have prompted the American Cancer Society to recommend screenings starting at age 45 instead of 50.

“We were finding more and more cases of colon cancer in people between ages 40 and 45,” said Dr. Ahmed Hasan of Lehigh Gastroenterology Associates.

“The American Cancer Society decided that age 50 was just too high. The incidents of cancer in the younger group was going up, so the conclusion was maybe 50 was five years too late.”

Hasan said that a screening at 45 is ideal for those with an average risk of colorectal cancer, as it can help catch a small problem before it grows.

“People have to realize that these are preventable measures,” Hasan said. “You don’t want to catch cancer, you want to catch a precancerous polyp.”

If a physician catches a polyp early enough, it can be safely removed, sometimes even without surgery.

Hasan said that even if the polyp is cancerous and beginning to spread, early detection can help stop the growth.

However, Hasan said, there are several “alarm signs” that signify a patient should get a test done immediately, regardless of age.

The symptoms include blood in the stool, changes in bowel movements, chronic abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea and/or weight loss. Those who have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps should also be checked earlier.

Various testing methods are available, ranging from stool-based tests to visual exams including colonoscopies.

Stool-based test methods, such as highly sensitive fecal immunochemical test and the highly sensitive guaiac-based fecal occult blood test are recommended on an annual basis, while the multi-targeted stool DNA test should be conducted every three years.

Visual tests like the CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy and the flexible sigmoidoscopy should be taken every five years, with a colonoscopy performed at least once every 10 years.

Hasan said that a gastroenterologist or primary care physician can help a patient decide which test is right for them based on their preferences and insurance coverage, though the colonoscopy continues to be the most reliable standard.

“If you ask the people in gastroenterology, they would suggest the colonoscopy,” Hasan said.

As to why there have been more cases of colorectal cancer in younger men, the matter has yet to be addressed.

Hasan, however, hopes that the ACS screening announcement may help spur more studies to find an answer.

“It’s kind of scary. You’re wondering why it’s happening — is it something in our diets? Too many preservatives? I think there is going to be more research into that,” he said.

For now, Hasan hopes that the recommendation from the ACS will motivate more people to get checked for colorectal cancer earlier, as it has already had an impact at his office.

“We have been getting a lot of phone calls, and we’re bringing a lot of people in,” he said.