Trending Now - Increased Colorectal Cancer Risk Linked to Common Habits
WHO:
Amy Piccioli, a mother from Los Angeles diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.
Dr. Tereza Cristina Sardinha, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery services at Catholic Health, Long Island, New York.
Dr. Nathan Goodyear, integrative medicine physician at Williams Cancer Institute, California.
Rebecca Siegel, cancer epidemiologist.
WHAT:
Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women aged 50 and younger.
Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Drinking at least two drinks per day increases the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer by at least 25%.
Regular drinking for at least 10 years increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than beer, which is more than wine.
Smoking is a risk factor for most cancers, including colorectal cancer.
Nearly 40% of cancers can be prevented with three lifestyle changes.
WHERE:
Catholic Health, Long Island, New York.
Williams Cancer Institute, California.
WHEN:
March 2026 is designated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
The trend of increasing colorectal cancer diagnoses among young people has been noted since the last half of the 20th century.
WHY:
An unidentified environmental or behavioral exposure introduced in the last half of the 20th century is believed to be driving the rise in colon cancer diagnoses.
HOW:
Alcohol consumption alters the gut microbiome, leading to DNA damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which are linked to cancer development.
Regular exercise and a high-fiber diet are recommended to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer.
(UPDATED March 22, 2026 11:04 UTC)
In March 2026, which is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, experts are highlighting the alarming rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses among individuals aged 50 and younger, a trend that has been observed since the last half of the 20th century. Dr. Tereza Cristina Sardinha from Catholic Health in Long Island and Dr. Nathan Goodyear from the Williams Cancer Institute in California emphasize that alcohol consumption, particularly two or more drinks a day, can significantly increase the risk of developing this cancer, alongside smoking and other lifestyle factors. They also note that nearly 40% of cancers could be prevented through three key lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a high-fiber diet.