Colon Cancer: Preventable, Detectable, Treatable

Last month the American Cancer Society announced that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women under age 50, and it is the only one where deaths continue to increase. The good news is, this type of cancer can be prevented with screening and is highly treatable when detected early. Next month is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so mark your calendar now for an important online event to learn everything you need to know about protecting yourself from colon cancer.

Washington Health Medical oncologist Jasmine Huynh, MD, will present an online seminar called, “Colon Cancer Awareness” on Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m. Viewers can watch live at YouTube.com/@Washington_Health. For those who miss the live presentation, the video will also be added to the Washington Health library of videos featuring health care experts.

“Colon cancer is actually quite common, but with good screening and early diagnosis, it is very curable,” said Dr. Huynh. “By following certain lifestyle habits, you can greatly reduce the risk of developing of colon cancer.”

A specialist in treating gastrointestinal cancers, Dr. Huynh joined the UCSF – Washington Cancer Center in June 2025. In addition to treating patients, she is a researcher, always seeking new therapies. Dr. Huynh is a proponent of clinical trials that give patients access to alternative treatments. She is a proud Fremont native whose parents still live here, so she was happy to relocate back from Washington, D.C., with her husband and baby to serve her hometown community.

“Colorectal cancer is an umbrella term that entails both colon and rectal cancers, but in this seminar I will focus on colon cancer awareness,” explained Dr. Huynh. “I will present statistics on the incidence of colon cancer, risk factors, how we can screen to hopefully catch it early in the case of a colon cancer diagnosis. I will also talk about ways we treat colon cancer and lifestyle choices people can make to help prevent it.”

Colon Cancer Screening Saves Lives

There are several screening methods for colon cancer including at-home collection kits like the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and Cologuard. These are noninvasive tests, where a small stool sample is placed in a tube and returned to a lab for testing. These tests check for blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer or precancerous polyps.

“At-home stool collection tests can be effective for average-risk people, but colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon cancer screening,” emphasized Dr. Huynh. “FIT and Cologuard are like taking a snapshot, while with a colonoscopy we get the full picture, examining the colon for polyps, lesions or masses.”

Colorectal cancer awareness is especially critical today due to an alarming 2% to 3% annual increase in younger people being diagnosed with colon cancer. Researchers are still finding out why young adults are the only population group experiencing an increase in colorectal cancer. Dr. Huynh will discuss her thoughts on the subject, focusing on the Western diet, and higher rates of inactivity and obesity.

“The main message is: It is important to get colonoscopy screening when you are due for it, starting at age 45,” said Dr. Huynh. To learn more about risk factors and things you can do to help prevent colon cancer, be sure to watch her upcoming presentation.

For more information on Dr. Huynh or the UCSF – Washington Cancer Center, visit WashingtonHealth.com/Cancer