Colorectal cancer: Why early screening and symptom awareness matter

April 8, 2026

Providence Oregon News Team

April 2026

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common — and most preventable — cancers in the United States. This year, an estimated 158,850 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease, which remains the third most common cancer nationwide.

At Providence, we believe patients deserve clear information, compassionate care and easy access to screening. According to Binbin Zheng, M.D., an oncologist with Providence Cancer Institute Franz Clinic, early awareness and timely screening can be lifesaving.

Recognizing symptoms early

Understanding your body — and trusting your instincts — matters. One of the most common warning signs of colorectal cancer is blood in the stool. Dr. Zheng explains that cancer-related bleeding differs from hemorrhoids in both appearance and cause.

“[With] cancer-related bleeding, typically we are talking about blood that’s mixed in stool, and it’s painless,” he says.

Any unexplained or ongoing symptoms should be discussed with a health care provider — regardless of age.

Rising rates in younger adults

While colorectal cancer rates have declined among older adults, cases are steadily increasing in people under 50.

“While in the older population, the incidence [of cancer] has been slowly dropping, in young patients — particularly those that are less than the age of 50 — it has been rising consistently,” Dr. Zheng says.

Researchers continue to study the reasons behind this shift. Potential factors include obesity, physical inactivity, red meat consumption and emerging concerns such as changes in gut health.

Prevention starts with everyday choices

Small lifestyle changes can have a powerful impact. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active and limiting red meat intake may significantly reduce risk.

Dr. Zheng estimates that healthy lifestyle choices alone can lower a person’s lifetime colorectal cancer risk by up to 40 percent.

Screening: The most effective tool we have

Screening remains the single most effective way to detect colorectal cancer early — often before symptoms appear.

“We have very accurate ways of detecting cancer before it becomes an advanced cancer,” Dr. Zheng says.

Convenient, affordable stool-based tests are now widely available for at-home use, making screening more accessible than ever. If a test result is positive, a follow-up colonoscopy is recommended.

Current guidelines advise routine colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for most adults. People with a family history of colorectal cancer or conditions such as Crohn’s disease may need screening earlier.

“Definitely consult your doctor to talk about a colonoscopy, because chances are you probably need them earlier,” Dr. Zheng says.

At Providence, our teams work closely with patients to make screening simple, supportive and personalized — because early care leads to better outcomes.