March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Canada, and this year the conversation feels different.


Colorectal cancer has long been considered a disease of older adults; increasingly, it is not behaving that way. Rates are rising in adults under 50, many of whom are otherwise healthy, active, and unaware of risk until symptoms appear. (1)(2) However, colon cancer is still prevalent in adults over the age of 50 and should not be discounted. Recent public losses, including beloved actors Catherine O'Hara and James Van Der Beek, have brought this reality into sharper focus.


This is not meant to alarm but is meant to awaken. Prevention conversations must evolve when the disease does.


The Canadian Reality

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in Canada:

  • Colorectal cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer
  • Approximately 1 in 17 men and 1 in 19 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime
  • Survival exceeds 90% when caught early — but drops significantly with later stage diagnosis


Colorectal cancer does not develop overnight. It evolves slowly, often over 10–15 years. (3)(8)


Before cancer, there are polyps.

Before polyps, there is chronic inflammation.

Before inflammation, there are patterns.


This is where prevention lives.


We Don’t Develop Colon Cancer Overnight

The rising rates in younger adults raise important questions:

  • What has changed in our environment?
  • What has changed in our food systems?
  • What has changed in our stress load?
  • What has changed in our microbiome?


We are living in a time of more ultra-processed food, higher alcohol intake, greater sedentary behavior, chronic stress, and disrupted circadian rhythms. (4)(5)(6) The colon reflects how we live. Our daily food and lifestyle habits are driving chronic inflammation and ill health, and are often void of adequate fibre.  Let's talk about that...


The Fibre Gap in Canada

National nutrition survey data indicate most Canadian adults consume well below recommended fiber levels. (7) Fibre is not simply about bowel regularity. It influences:

  • Estrogen metabolism
  • Blood sugar regulation
  • Short-chain fatty acid production (such as butyrate, which supports colon cell health)
  • Microbiome diversity
  • Inflammatory balance


Low fibre intake has been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer, metabolic disease, and hormone-related conditions.


Reaching the recommended 30g of fiber per day from whole foods is achievable with intentional food choices across meals. The key is distributing fiber throughout the day, emphasizing legumes, seeds, vegetables, fruit with skin, and intact whole grains rather than refined products. Here are some easy ideas to hit your daily fiber target:

  • Add ½ cup of lentils or chickpeas to a lunch salad
  • Snack on a pear, apple, or a small handful of almonds
  • Sprinkle 1-2 tbsp of ground flaxseed over oatmeal, yogurt, or salads
  • Mash black beans into your taco meat or use on its own
  • Add spinach or zucchini to your morning smoothie
  • Incorporate cruciferous vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, or cabbage daily
  • Use veggies & hummus as an appetizer before your meal even begins


Make sure to increase intake gradually and ensure adequate hydration to support digestive comfort.


What Prevention Looks Like in a Naturopathic Setting

At Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine, prevention is not a checklist. Like the foundation of our care, we provide a risk assessment that is specific and individualized to each of our unique patients. A naturopathic approach to colorectal cancer prevention may include:

  • Detailed family history analysis
  • Review of inflammatory risk markers and metabolic risk patterns
  • Evaluation of digestive symptoms that are often normalized
  • Review of microbiome-supportive dietary diversity
  • Alcohol intake, stress physiology, sleep quality, and circadian alignment


We do not replace recommended screening. We ensure you are prepared for it, informed about it, and address modifiable risk factors years before it becomes urgent.


In Saskatchewan, routine colorectal screening is recommended beginning at age 50 for average-risk individuals, and earlier for those with family history or additional risk factors. (9) Screening options may include FIT (fecal immunochemical testing) and/or colonoscopy depending on your risk category. If you are unsure where you fall, a comprehensive review with your GP can clarify your screening timeline.


When to Take Symptoms Seriously

See your healthcare provider if you have these signs or symptoms:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Stool that looks narrower than usual
  • Feeling like the rectum is not completely empty after a bowel movement
  • Bright or very dark red in the stool  Bleeding from the rectum
  • Pain or discomfort in the rectum
  • A lump in the abdomen or rectum
  • Prolonged loss of appetite or unexpected weight loss


Preventive Care Is a Privilege. Use It Wisely.

There is nothing indulgent about preventive care - it is intelligent stewardship of your future health. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early, but the years before detection are where the greatest opportunity lies. If you’re ready for a comprehensive review of your digestive health, inflammatory risk, and screening strategy, book your consultation with your ND this month.



References:

1. Sung H, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Jiang C, Morgan E, Zahwe M, Cao Y, Bray F, Jemal A. Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry data. Lancet Oncol. 2025 Jan;26(1):51-63. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00600-4. Epub 2024 Dec 12. PMID: 39674189; PMCID: PMC11695264.


2. Dharwadkar P, Zaki TA, Murphy CC. Colorectal Cancer in Younger Adults. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2022 Jun;36(3):449-470. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.02.005. Epub 2022 May 13. PMID: 35577711; PMCID:

PMC9177054.


3. Hossain MS, Karuniawati H, Jairoun AA, Urbi Z, Ooi J, John A, Lim YC, Kibria KMK, Mohiuddin AKM, Ming LC, Goh KW, Hadi MA. Colorectal Cancer: AReview of Carcinogenesis, Global Epidemiology, Current Challenges, Risk Factors, Preventive and Treatment Strategies. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Mar 29;14(7):1732. doi: 10.3390/cancers14071732. PMID: 35406504; PMCID: PMC8996939.


4. Wang L, Du M, Wang K, Khandpur N, Rossato SL, Drouin-Chartier JP, Steele EM, Giovannucci E, Song M, Zhang FF. Association of ultra-processed food consumption with colorectal cancer risk among men and women: results from three prospective US cohort studies. BMJ. 2022 Aug 31;378:e068921. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-068921. PMID: 38752573; PMCID: PMC9430376.


5. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/limit-alcohol


6. An S, Park S. Association of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior With the Risk of Colorectal Cancer. J Korean Med Sci. 2022 May 16;37(19):e158. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e158. PMID: 35578589; PMCID: PMC9110266.


7. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/nutrients/fibre.html


8. Shahgoli VK, Noorolyai S, Ahmadpour Youshanlui M, Saeidi H, Nasiri H, Mansoori B, Holmskov U, Baradaran B. Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and cancer: unmasking the chronic inflammation link. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2024 Oct 28;39(1):173. doi: 10.1007/s00384-024-04748-y. PMID: 39465427; PMCID: PMC11513726.


9. https://saskcancer.ca/ColonCheck