Colon cancer rising among younger adults [Video]

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – More adults are being diagnosed with colon cancer at a younger age.

Colon cancer is the third-most common cancer overall in both men and women. It’s increasing in people under 50 years old.

The trend is concerning to doctors, who are trying to figure out why this is happening. Several studies are looking into the reasons.

“We think a lot of dietary factors are playing a larger role as well. When we see genetic colon cancer we usually see colon cancer on the right side. If you look at colon cancer in most younger adults, it’s in the left colon, which may be indicative of other factors,” Dr. Vikas Khullar, a gastroenterologist with Prevea Health, said.

The most important thing, doctors say, is to get a colonoscopy. Doctors say colonoscopies are critical because they’re the only test where they can catch polyps in the colon …