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Colon cancer rates up among young white males

Posted at 9:44 AM, Aug 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-09 09:44:22-04

The American Medical Association released a new study showing that colon cancer is slowly increasing among white people younger than 55, specifically white males.

“Among white people the death rate has creeped up just a little bit. To put that in perspective, however, the death rate among younger people is a fraction of what it is among other people,” Roswell Park Cancer Institute Professor of Sugery Dr. Stephen Edge said.

He also said the number of older people suffering from the deadly cancer is down. He credits that to early prevention and screenings.

Still no one can explain why the numbers among young people are creeping up. However, some doctors believe diet, weight, and alcohol play a factor.

At the same time, data also shows the number of black people with colon cancer is on the decline. However, more blacks are impacted by the disease than whites.

“Probably not because of any genetic reasons but probably because of access to care issues,” Dr. Edge said.

Doctors at Roswell Park are researching to find a drugs to treat the cancer. The U.S. News & World Report ranks the Buffalo Hospital as 33rd among 900 cancer hospitals in the nation.

“Besides the hospital care that we give to our patients, we have a while big side of our institute that’s a research institution where we are there trying to discover the next therapies and the next innovated approaches to deal with cancer,” said Roswell Park President and CEO Dr. Candace Johnson.

Warning signs of colon cancer are 

*Rectal bleeding

*Weight loss for no known reason

*Weakness or fatigue* Nausea or vomiting

*Diarrhea, constipation or narrower stools than usual

*Bowel never feels empty

*Blood in your stool (bright red or very dark)

*Persistent cramps, gas, pain, or feeling full or bloated