Dr. Stacy Norton was only 7 years old when her mother died of colon cancer, one of several family members struck by aggressive tumors at unusually young ages. Decades later, Norton rolled up her sleeve to help test if a new kind of vaccine might protect her and her own children from cancer. The Houston doctor is … Read more
Colonoscopies are the top-recommended screening for colorectal cancer, which is is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men and women. In adults aged 50-64, rates are climbing. Yet some people avoid their screenings due to fear, inconvenience or discomfort — and not even from the rectal camera. (The pre-procedure laxative solution meant … Read more
Maria Kang built her career around fitness, healthy eating and helping other moms prioritize wellness. But despite believing she had done “everything right,” the California mother of three was blindsided by colon cancer. Kang, now 46, said the diagnosis completely reshaped her understanding of what it means to be healthy. She became an internet sensation in … Read more
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The organization released the update in its flagship journal on Wednesday, noting that the new recommendations “re-affirm” that adults at average risk should be screened for colorectal cancer at age 45 and continue through 75, for those with a life expectancy greater than 10 … Read more
Researchers are finally getting to the bottom of a troubling trend. Once considered a disease of older adults, colorectal cancer has now overtaken breast and brain cancers to become the leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans under 50. But a new study suggests that the burden isn’t spread evenly, finding that deaths among younger … Read more
Eating a certain type of food could increase the risk of getting a deadly cancer at a younger age, researchers say. A new study at Mass General Brigham has linked higher consumption of ultraprocessed foods, which largely include ready-to-eat foods with high levels of sugar, salt, saturated fat and food additives, to higher rates of precursors of … Read more
A jarring collision with a rude skier changed the course of Liz Healy’s life in unimaginable ways. That fateful trip to Vermont in 2022 left Healy in excruciating pain. The MRI results were shocking — she had a fractured sacrum and a kidney tumor. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 kidney cancer. Further testing revealed the … Read more
A woman who dismissed blood in her stool as hemorrhoids was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Meagan Meadows, 24, started experiencing blood in her stool in October 2024, but after chatting with friends and family, she dismissed her symptoms as hemorrhoids. After a few months, her symptoms persisted, so Meagan booked an appointment with … Read more
A survivor is sharing the colorectal cancer symptoms she missed in the hopes of helping others. About 150,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer, which occurs when cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. Children’s book author Elayne Gorham, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at 32, initially chalked her red flags … Read more
Kevin Brady, 38, was in the best shape of his life when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in October 2024. And he wants you to know that, yes — it matters. “I think when some people hear of someone who’s very healthy and in good shape who gets cancer they go, ‘What was the … Read more
Personal trainer Bill Maeda, 56, has always been pretty high energy. He was only 7 or 8 years old when he first started working out, inspired by the speed and athleticism of Bruce Lee — and his muscles. “I had never seen muscles,” he said. “I was blown away by that. He just looks so … Read more
Early-onset colorectal cancer rates are surging around the world, and Millennials are in the crosshairs. According to a study published in the British Journal of Surgery, early-onset colorectal cancer, defined as cases diagnosed before age 50, has risen dramatically among both sexes in the US since the mid-1990s. While colon cancer is traditionally linked to … Read more
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making it a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. “This is about as high a quality of evidence … Read more
A 20-cent “wonder drug” may do more than manage blood sugar. Researchers are investigating whether a widely used diabetes medication could aid in the fight against colorectal cancer after the disease strikes. Scientists are cautiously optimistic that this decades-old pill could provide a new lifeline to the 150,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year … Read more
Here’s the bottom line — nearly 53,000 Americans are projected to die from colorectal cancer this year. The overall five-year survival rate for the disease is around 65%. Several factors significantly influence prognosis, including the stage of the cancer at diagnosis, its location within the colon and the effectiveness of treatment. A new study suggests … Read more
The colon cancer mortality rate in people under 55 has been rising about 1% annually since the mid-2000s, with diagnoses in people under 50 expected to double by 2030. While experts are still debating the cause of the alarming increase, one line of defense could lie in your diet. The colon cancer mortality rate in people … Read more
A groundbreaking new study suggests that a gut-dwelling bacteria may be behind the recent surge in early-onset colorectal cancer cases. The potential culprit? Colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli that thrive in the colon and rectum. “We believe this exposure occurs very early in life — likely during the first decade … Read more
Rory Kennedy, 36, has no family history of cancer. He’s not overweight, and he has always maintained a healthy lifestyle — clean diet, regular exercise, no smoking or drinking. So when he was diagnosed with stage 3C colon cancer last September, it was a shock, to say the least. “I don’t have a single checkmark … Read more
Hold the hummus and pass the camembert. For decades, Americans have been told that eating like the Greeks is the gold standard for good health. But Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist and author of “The Ageless Revolution”, argues that we should have been looking to Paris all along. “The French diet wins in every category,” … Read more
Mama Mary Schmucker, one of the stars of TLC’s hit reality show “Breaking Amish,” has died at age 65 after a three-year cancer battle, according to her family. Schmuker died at her Pennsylvania home on Friday after battling colon cancer since 2022, her family announced, according to TMZ. The mother of five entered hospice care … Read more