Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Why Being Proactive Matters

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the conversation is changing.

We are hearing more and more about younger adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, even people in their 30s and 40s. In fact, colorectal cancer is now the number one cancer death in men and women under age 50.

What makes this tricky is that routine screening colonoscopies typically don’t begin until age 45 for average-risk individuals.

This is not a reason to panic. But it is a reason to be proactive. Rates in adults under 50 have been rising since the 1990s. While researchers don’t fully agree on all the causes, conversations increasingly point toward:

• Chronic inflammation

• Metabolic health changes

• Gut microbiome shifts

• Lifestyle and dietary patterns

Pay Attention to Your Body

If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s important to follow up with a GI specialist:

• Dark or black stools • Blood in your stool • Pencil-thin stool • Ongoing constipation or diarrhea • Changes in bowel habits • Unexplained weight loss • Rectal bleeding

However, here is the key point: early colorectal cancer often has no symptoms at all. That’s why appropriate screening matters.

So what about a thermogram? An abdominal thermogram is one tool that can be used along with other diagnostic screening tools, and is a non-invasive way to visualize inflammation present in the stomach, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and pelvis. Addressing inflammation early is key and thermography is the perfect tool for this!

A Broader Prevention Mindset

Since the month of March focuses on colorectal cancer awareness, it’s also a meaningful time to take a broader look at whole-body inflammation and metabolic health. Supporting gut health, reducing inflammatory load, and staying current with recommended screenings are all part of a proactive wellness strategy.

Prevention is not about fear, it’s about paying attention early and often.

Ready to take a proactive look at your health? Visit us at www.functionalwellnessandimaging.com to learn more about our prevention-focused services.