Latest news with #BarryStein
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorectal cancer isn't an 'old person's disease,' advocates warn. A stage 4 cancer survivor shares 5 things you should never do if you want to avoid the disease
Colorectal cancer is a serious health risk for many Canadians — including people under age 50. More than 25,200 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024, making it the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada last year. Now, advocates want all provinces and territories to lower the screening age for the disease to 45. "Our objective is to ensure that young Canadians do not ignore the signs and symptoms just because of their age and that they are aware of their family medical history and risk level, as we call on our provincial and territorial health ministries to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer throughout the country to 45," Barry Stein, president and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, explains in a press release on Tuesday. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The non-profit adds that colorectal cancer might be perceived as an "old person's disease," but shares that early-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise and that cancer doesn't care about your age. Most new cases still occur in people age 50 and above, but Canadians born after 1980 are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to earlier generations. According Colorectal Cancer Canada, 26 people die from the illness everyday on average, with around 69 people receiving a diagnosis daily. For 2024, it was estimated that 9,400 Canadians died from colorectal cancer, making up 11 per cent of all cancer deaths last year. Colorectal cancer cancer grows more slowly than some other cancer and can stay in the colon or rectum for months or even years. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, but if found early, colorectal cancer can often be cured. This is why Stein points out that colorectal cancer can be preventable through lifestyle choices, awareness of symptoms and early screening. In 1995, while juggling the demands of his legal career, Stein began noticing various concerning symptoms. Those included blood in his stool, migraines, abdominal pain and nausea, which he dismissed as related to stress. "I was turning 41 at the time and had no idea what cancer even was," Stein recalls in a previous interview with Yahoo Canada. "People didn't say that word so much in 1995, let alone colorectal cancer. These were symptoms that came and went, so I ignored them." It wasn't until he finally had a fecal occult blood test and colonoscopies that the diagnosis hit: Stage IV colorectal cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs. Still, Stein stresses a person's health doesn't have to get to this point; he shares five things Canadians should and shouldn't do to help prevent colorectal cancer. Unexplained changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or fatigue should never be symptoms you ignore. These signs might also be linked to other gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers, Crohn's disease or hemorrhoids, according to the Colorectal Cancer Canada website. That means "just because you have these symptoms doesn't mean you have colon cancer," Stein adds. "But they are a reason to be checked out." Regular screenings are important because colorectal cancer often develops from precancerous polyps, or growths in the colon or rectum. Catching and removing these polyps early can prevent them from becoming cancerous. Starting at age 50, you should undergo routine fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopies. Even though everybody has the right to get screened starting at age 50, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer states the "screening participation rate across the country is still below the national target of 60 per cent." Despite this, Colorectal Cancer Canada highlights that the screening guidelines have effectively reduced cancer rates in those over age 50, demonstrating their life-saving potential. However, there is a rise in cases among younger adults, particularly those with a family history of colorectal cancer, Stein notes. These individuals are often diagnosed at a later stage because they are not getting screened and health-care professionals may not suspect cancer at a young age. If you're under 50 and experiencing related symptoms, or have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, you may need to start screening early. "Speak to your doctor about your personal testing plan," the organization advises. The Foods That Fight Cancer program by Colorectal Cancer Canada recommends eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in fibre, which helps keep the digestive system healthy and can lower the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to these foods, the program advises limiting the intake of processed meats and red meat, which are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. It also recommends reducing the amount of alcohol and sugary beverages you drink. Highly processed foods should be minimized as well. By making these dietary changes, the risk of developing colorectal cancer can be minimized, Stein points out. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine, as physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer. Stein highlights, "Having a sedentary lifestyle, in other words, being a couch potato, is a risk factor." Staying active not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. According to Colorectal Cancer Canada, regular physical activity can lower the risk by improving bowel function and reducing inflammation. Discuss your family history of colorectal cancer with a health-care provider so you understand the risk. If you have a first-degree relative — such as a parent, sibling or child — who's had colorectal cancer, your risk is higher. Shared genetics and lifestyle factors contribute to this increased risk, according to Colorectal Cancer Canada. Moreover, genetic syndromes like Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) can elevate your risk further. People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, often at a younger age. Other inherited conditions, like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which causes numerous polyps in the colon and rectum, also heighten the risk. "Your age and generic history of your family are risk factors that you can't control," Stein says, adding the goal is to focus on what can be controlled, like eating healthier foods and exercising. Prevention is often more straightforward than treatment, which can be invasive and challenging. As Stein states, "it's so much easier to prevent something (than to treat it)." "All you have to do is get a kit, poop in your toilet, send it to the lab with a little stick and you find out if it's positive," Stein explains. If it does turn out positive, you would then go for a colonoscopy so that the polyp can be located. "If there is a polyp, they remove it and you catch the cancer early. Otherwise, you go through what I went through, which is quite challenging, to say the least. And at worst, people die." By focusing on early screening and prevention, potential issues can be caught early before developing into cancer, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden of treatment.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Calls to lower colorectal cancer screening age
Winnipeg Watch Maralee speaks with Barry Stein of Colorectal Cancer Canada about their push to lower the screening age to 45 years old.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorectal cancer isn't an 'old person's disease,' advocates warn. A stage 4 cancer survivor shares 5 things you should never do if you want to avoid the disease
Colorectal cancer is a serious health risk for many Canadians — including people under age 50. More than 25,200 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024, making it the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada last year. Now, advocates want all provinces and territories to lower the screening age for the disease to 45. "Our objective is to ensure that young Canadians do not ignore the signs and symptoms just because of their age and that they are aware of their family medical history and risk level, as we call on our provincial and territorial health ministries to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer throughout the country to 45," Barry Stein, president and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, explains in a press release on Tuesday. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The non-profit adds that colorectal cancer might be perceived as an "old person's disease," but shares that early-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise and that cancer doesn't care about your age. Most new cases still occur in people age 50 and above, but Canadians born after 1980 are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to earlier generations. According Colorectal Cancer Canada, 26 people die from the illness everyday on average, with around 69 people receiving a diagnosis daily. For 2024, it was estimated that 9,400 Canadians died from colorectal cancer, making up 11 per cent of all cancer deaths last year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Colorectal Cancer Canada (@coloncanada) Colorectal cancer cancer grows more slowly than some other cancer and can stay in the colon or rectum for months or even years. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, but if found early, colorectal cancer can often be cured. This is why Stein points out that colorectal cancer can be preventable through lifestyle choices, awareness of symptoms and early screening. In 1995, while juggling the demands of his legal career, Stein began noticing various concerning symptoms. Those included blood in his stool, migraines, abdominal pain and nausea, which he dismissed as related to stress. "I was turning 41 at the time and had no idea what cancer even was," Stein recalls in a previous interview with Yahoo Canada. "People didn't say that word so much in 1995, let alone colorectal cancer. These were symptoms that came and went, so I ignored them." It wasn't until he finally had a fecal occult blood test and colonoscopies that the diagnosis hit: Stage IV colorectal cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs. Still, Stein stresses a person's health doesn't have to get to this point; he shares five things Canadians should and shouldn't do to help prevent colorectal cancer. Unexplained changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or fatigue should never be symptoms you ignore. These signs might also be linked to other gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers, Crohn's disease or hemorrhoids, according to the Colorectal Cancer Canada website. That means "just because you have these symptoms doesn't mean you have colon cancer," Stein adds. "But they are a reason to be checked out." Regular screenings are important because colorectal cancer often develops from precancerous polyps, or growths in the colon or rectum. Catching and removing these polyps early can prevent them from becoming cancerous. Starting at age 50, you should undergo routine fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopies. Even though everybody has the right to get screened starting at age 50, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer states the "screening participation rate across the country is still below the national target of 60 per cent." Despite this, Colorectal Cancer Canada highlights that the screening guidelines have effectively reduced cancer rates in those over age 50, demonstrating their life-saving potential. However, there is a rise in cases among younger adults, particularly those with a family history of colorectal cancer, Stein notes. These individuals are often diagnosed at a later stage because they are not getting screened and health-care professionals may not suspect cancer at a young age. If you're under 50 and experiencing related symptoms, or have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, you may need to start screening early. "Speak to your doctor about your personal testing plan," the organization advises. The Foods That Fight Cancer program by Colorectal Cancer Canada recommends eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in fibre, which helps keep the digestive system healthy and can lower the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to these foods, the program advises limiting the intake of processed meats and red meat, which are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. It also recommends reducing the amount of alcohol and sugary beverages you drink. Highly processed foods should be minimized as well. By making these dietary changes, the risk of developing colorectal cancer can be minimized, Stein points out. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine, as physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer. Stein highlights, "Having a sedentary lifestyle, in other words, being a couch potato, is a risk factor." Staying active not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. According to Colorectal Cancer Canada, regular physical activity can lower the risk by improving bowel function and reducing inflammation. Discuss your family history of colorectal cancer with a health-care provider so you understand the risk. If you have a first-degree relative — such as a parent, sibling or child — who's had colorectal cancer, your risk is higher. Shared genetics and lifestyle factors contribute to this increased risk, according to Colorectal Cancer Canada. Moreover, genetic syndromes like Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) can elevate your risk further. People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, often at a younger age. Other inherited conditions, like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which causes numerous polyps in the colon and rectum, also heighten the risk. "Your age and generic history of your family are risk factors that you can't control," Stein says, adding the goal is to focus on what can be controlled, like eating healthier foods and exercising. Prevention is often more straightforward than treatment, which can be invasive and challenging. As Stein states, "it's so much easier to prevent something (than to treat it)." "All you have to do is get a kit, poop in your toilet, send it to the lab with a little stick and you find out if it's positive," Stein explains. If it does turn out positive, you would then go for a colonoscopy so that the polyp can be located. "If there is a polyp, they remove it and you catch the cancer early. Otherwise, you go through what I went through, which is quite challenging, to say the least. And at worst, people die." By focusing on early screening and prevention, potential issues can be caught early before developing into cancer, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden of treatment.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Health advocates call for lowering colorectal cancer screening age to 45
Visitors walk through an inflatable colon as the American Cancer Society displayed information urging screening to detect colorectal cancer in Sacramento, Calif., on March 24, 2014. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo) Health advocates are pushing for all provinces and territories to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer to 45 as a growing number of younger adults are getting the disease. 'Our objective is to ensure that young Canadians do not ignore the signs and symptoms just because of their age and that they are aware of their family medical history and risk level, as we call on our provincial and territorial health ministries to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer throughout the country to 45,' said Barry Stein, president and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada, in a statement on Tuesday. Colorectal cancer screening is currently offered for those at 'average-risk' across Canada. Those at average risk are aged 50 to 74 who don't have symptoms and personal or family history of the following: colorectal cancer certain polyps genetic conditions like Lynch syndrome inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's or colitis. Colorectal Cancer Canada, a national non-profit group, said its advice follows the change made to U.S. guidelines in 2018 to include those aged 45 to 49 for screening based on 'evidence-based recommendations' from the American Cancer Society. Australia also reduced the starting age for bowel cancer screening to 45 from 50 in 2024. What is the risk? Although individuals aged 50 and older are mostly getting the cancer, Colorectal Cancer Canada said it's not 'an old person's disease' and the risk now is greater for younger adults compared to past generations. Those born after 1980 are two to 2.5 times more likely to get colorectal cancer before they turn 50, according to Colorectal Cancer Canada. What's more, it said younger patients tend to be diagnosed with the disease at more advanced stages, which creates 'unique challenges' for prognosis and treatment. Early onset colorectal cancer is rising among those below age 50, Colorectal Cancer Canada added. At the same time, Canada is seeing a declining number of cases and deaths for those 50 and older.
Global News
30-04-2025
- Health
- Global News
Why are young adults getting colorectal cancer? E. coli may be a clue
Exposure to a bacterial toxin in childhood may be playing a key role in the global rise of early onset of colorectal cancer, according to a new study. The study, published April 23 in Nature, found that a toxin called colibactin, produced by certain strains of E. coli that live in the colon and rectum, is capable of altering DNA. The researchers from the University of California reported that early exposure to colibactin leaves a unique mark on colon cell DNA — one that could bump up your chances of getting colorectal cancer before 50. However, it's important to note that the study did not prove colibactin caused cancer, it only identified a link between mutations linked to the toxin and early-onset disease. 'These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease,' said study senior author Ludmil Alexandrov, professor in the department of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California San Diego. Story continues below advertisement 'If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60,' he said in a media release. 2:08 'Could've been avoided': Colon cancer survivor advocates for colonoscopies Colorectal cancer includes two types of cancers: cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum. Generally, it spreads more slowly than many other cancers, often lingering in the colon or rectum for months or even years before spreading elsewhere. That means if it's detected early, treatment is usually very effective. While colorectal cancer rates have been falling among older adults, they've been climbing in people under 50 — both in Canada and around the world — over the past few decades, for reasons that still aren't clear. Story continues below advertisement If current trends continue, it's projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults by 2030. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The fastest-growing subset of the population who get colorectal cancer, and primarily rectal cancer, are between the ages of 28 and 39 years old,' said Barry Stein, president and CEO of Colorectal Cancer Canada. 'And we don't have a reason to understand why these people are being diagnosed or why they're getting colorectal cancer in the first place.' The question of why this is happening is what led the University of California researchers to dig deeper. Stein explained that there's already some evidence linking gut bacteria to colorectal cancer — whether it's a cause or just a correlation — and said this study adds another piece to the puzzle. 3:55 Health Matters: Colon cancer risks What the study found To help explain the medical mystery, the study's researchers looked at 981 colorectal cancer genomes from patients with both early- and late-onset disease across 11 countries (including Canada) with varying colorectal cancer risk levels. Story continues below advertisement The researchers found that colibactin leaves behind DNA mutation patterns in colorectal cancer that are 3.3 times more common in adults diagnosed before 40 than in those diagnosed after 70, and these patterns are especially frequent in countries with high rates of early-onset colorectal cancer. Previous studies, including earlier work from Alexandrov's lab, have found colibactin-related mutations in about 10 to 15 per cent of all colorectal cancer cases. Bu, these studies either focused on late-onset cases or didn't differentiate between early- and late-onset disease. This latest study is the first to specifically highlight a significant increase in colibactin-related mutations in early-onset cases, the researchers said. 2:20 Should the screening age for colon cancer be lowered? The researchers found that the damage caused by colibactin seems to kick in surprisingly early. By analyzing the molecular 'timing' of different DNA mutation patterns, they were able to show that the mutations linked to colibactin tend to show up early in the process of tumour development, often during the first decade of life. Story continues below advertisement This means the colibactin-producing bacteria might be taking hold in children's digestive systems early on, quietly altering their DNA in ways that could increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer later in life, long before any warning signs emerge, the study said. Dr. Shuji Ogino, chief of the molecular pathological epidemiology program at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, called the study findings 'fascinating.' 'Cancer develops in a long-term process. So people have cancer at age 40, age 45 or age 60, right? They have a symptom, go to the doctor,' he said. 'But in reality, it's likely that the process starts earlier. We don't know yet when it starts, but it could start quite early, even as a baby.' And that's what the study points to, he added. What's next? Although it's too early to tell, Stein said if there is a link between the bacteria and colorectal cancer, it may have 'very profound effects.' Story continues below advertisement 'For example, maybe these are things that we could look for when we're doing screening for the disease in terms of preventing the disease in the first place,' he said. 'Or maybe it's something that, through treatment, through developing a vaccine or developing a drug, we can attack those types of bacterium, which could stop the cause of colon cancer.' In the meantime, the researchers say there's still a lot we don't know — and this discovery opens the door to a whole new set of questions. How exactly are kids being exposed to colibactin-producing bacteria, and is there a way to reduce or prevent that exposure? Are certain diets, environments or lifestyle factors making the body more hospitable to these microbes? And how can someone even find out if they already carry these kinds of mutations? The team is actively digging into these questions. They're exploring various theories, including whether probiotics could help safely wipe out harmful strains.
