Health News
Smoker and Drinkers Develop Colon Cancer Earlier
March 28, 2006
Smokers and drinkers with colon cancer appear to develop the disease up to ten years earlier than those who do not smoke or drink. This recent study suggests that some people with these habits should be screened earlier for colorectal cancer than currently recommended.
It is advised that people should begin regular screening for pre-cancerous intestinal polyps at the age of 50. For people who have a family history of the disease screenings should start earlier.
This new study of more than 160,000 patients with colon cancer is offering a new perspective on when screenings should begin for some patients. Age 50 might be too late for people who smoke and use tobacco to begin colonoscopy screenings. The study analyzed data of colorectal cancer patients between 1993 and 2003, which revealed that alcohol and tobacco users were diagnosed with the disease 7.8 years earlier on average than those who did not smoke or drink.