Rising Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults: Implications for Screening

Guest: Christopher Cann, MD

Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger adults, highlighting important gaps in current screening practices. Given this alarming trend, Dr. Christopher Cann discusses how rising incidence in patients under 50 challenges traditional screening thresholds and underscores the need for earlier risk assessment. He emphasizes the importance of family history, identifying high-risk individuals who may benefit from earlier screening, and maintaining a low threshold to evaluate persistent symptoms. Dr. Cann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where he's also the Director of the Young Adult Cancer Program.