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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Medical professionals have been raising concerns about the rising trend of colorectal cancer, with specific discoveries about the cancer being discovered as the leading cause of death in men under 50 and the second for women of the same age. WBZ’s Nichole Davis spoke to Dr. Ben Schlechter, GI Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston about this concerning trend.
“So, we [are seeing] an increase in cancers in young people under 50, and we have an increase in the cancer that is most likely to cause problems in terms of quality of life and the cancer that [without proper care], you are most likely to die from,” said Schlechter.
Schlechter added that Dana-Farber's Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Center is working on studying all aspects of the disease.
“We’re looking at everything. We’re looking at DNA, we’re looking at RNA, we’re looking at proteins, the microbiomes that live in your colon, and we’re also looking at diet, exercise and weight too.”
The latest discoveries and research indicate that they believe that there are multiple factors that are working in tandem in the colon to cause this cancer, but it is not exactly clear what those factors are. However, Schlechter emphasized the importance of regular screenings as a preventive measure.
“Starting at 45, every human being who has a colon and a rectum should either get a colonoscopy or another type of precautionary test.”
Doctors say that with this type of cancer, early screening is critical, as the disease is often caught at a later stage, reducing the amount of time they have to try and save their patient’s life.
WBZ NewsRadio's Nichole Davis (NicholeDWBZ) reports.
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