Young Adults Face Rising Colorectal Cancer Risk, Urged To Seek Early Screenings

Colorectal cancer numbers are rising in younger adults. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force reduced the age for regular screenings to 45 in 2021 because of the increase.

“It was a total surprise. I had been healthy my whole life,” Dana Jones said.

Dana Jones is a wife and mother who tells me she lived an active life before she received news that no one ever wants to hear.

“They told me I had stage four colon cancer,” Jones said.

She found out after she went to the doctor because of severe constipation and stomach pains.

“I don't know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't that,” Jones said.

Dana learned colorectal cancer had been developing in her body for nearly three years and had even spread to her liver.

OU Health GI Oncologist, Dr. Susanna Ulahannan, says seeing young patients like Dana is becoming more common. Some of her youngest patients are in their 30s.

“This is really important because you know we used to think that you know we didn’t have to worry about this until we are 60 or 70 to get colorectal cancer, but that’s not the case,” Ulahannan said.

Jones went on to participate in a clinical trial at OU Health and also had chemotherapy, radiation, and liver surgery.

Dr. Ulahannan encourages young people to advocate for their health and to always seek answers regarding their well-being.

“Keep a healthy diet. Lots of fiber, eat whole foods, and lots of vegetables, and avoid all these processed foods. Just have a very healthy lifestyle,” Ulahannan said.

This new data is driving the efforts of survivors like Dana who want to emphasize that screenings can make a difference.

“Get checks, get scans, listen to your body, and just get in a network that is going to provide you help,” Jones said.

Dana no longer has signs of the disease and hopes her story encourages others to advocate for themselves if something doesn't feel right.