Get the lowdown on prostate and colorectal cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men behind skin cancer. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the an estimated 34,500 will die. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 23 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in his lifetime according to the ACS, and nearly 53,000 will die. Early detection through screening can improve survivability. Discuss the risks and benefits of screening with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Man smiling with his doctor

What are the risk factors for prostate and colorectal cancer?

Age, family history, and diets low in fruits and vegetables are among the shared risk factors of both cancers. Additionally, lifestyle choices such as diet, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and inactivity can affect the risk equation for these cancers and many other conditions.

Ethnicity is considered a shared risk factor with Black men nearly 2.5 times more likely to die of the disease than non-Hispanic white men. Recent studies, however, suggest that disparity is linked to healthcare access and not biology.

People with inflammatory bowel disease, a personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome are at higher risk for colorectal cancer.

Screening for prostate cancer

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can indicate the possible existence of prostate cancer. The only way to confirm prostate cancer is through a tissue sample or biopsy, but that procedure carries extra medical risks.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says that PSA screening for men aged 55 to 69 statistically offers a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of death from prostate cancer in some men while increasing the risk if unintended medical complications occur.

While the PSA test can lead to a cancer diagnosis, a false positive can lead to potentially risky testing that could cause medical complications such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence. It recommends that patients and doctors consider the risks and benefits based on individual risk factors in reaching a decision on screening.

Furthermore, the task force recommends against screening for prostate cancer in men 70-and-over.

Questions for your doctor

  • Am I at a greater risk for prostate cancer?
  • At what age should I consider screening for prostate cancer?
  • If I have an abnormal test result, what could it be besides cancer?
  • What is a biopsy? How is it done?
  • What are the risks of a biopsy?
  • If a biopsy reveals cancer, what does that mean?
  • What are the treatment options and side effects?

Screening for colorectal cancer

There are two kinds of tests used in screening for colorectal cancer: Stool-based and visual tests. Stool-based screenings test feces for signs of cancer. Visual tests, such as colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, allow doctors to inspect the colon through a tiny video camera inserted into the body.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45 to 75 get screened for colorectal cancer and that people aged 76 and 85 consider it based on individual health circumstances.

Those at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer should talk to their doctors about when to begin screening, which test is right for them, and how often they should be tested.

Questions for your doctor

  • Should I be screened for colorectal cancer?
  • What screening test(s) do you recommend?
  • How do I prepare for these tests?
  • How do they perform the tests? Are tests uncomfortable?
  • What are the risks?
  • When and from whom will I get results?

Sources:

cdc.gov

medlineplus.gov

American Cancer Society

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The information provided is meant for a general audience. Capital Blue Cross and its affiliated companies believe this health education resource provides useful information but does not assume any liability associated with its use.