Colorectal cancer is rising in adults under 50, and the usual explanations don't fully add up. People born around 1990 have four times the risk of rectal cancer as people born around 1950, and Dr. Shruti Patel's patients in their 30s often exercise more and eat better than she does. So what is driving it, and what should you do with a symptom that's easy to explain away?
In this episode of The Resilience Factor podcast, Dr. Pamela Mehta talks with Dr. Shruti Patel, a board-certified medical oncologist and clinical assistant professor at Stanford, where she cares for younger adults with GI cancers. Dr. Patel explains which symptoms are easiest to dismiss, why a normal scan isn't the same as a clear colonoscopy, and what she tells patients who assume they're too young to be taken seriously. She also covers what lowers risk, how to make prep tolerable, and what younger patients need that standard care misses.
IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Is Colorectal Cancer Really Rising, or Are We Just Screening More?
01:42 Why Are Younger People Getting Colorectal Cancer?
03:13 Is Colorectal Cancer Your Fault?
05:10 How Does Colorectal Cancer Actually Start?
06:45 Which Colorectal Cancer Symptoms Are Easiest to Miss?
07:47 Can You Have Colorectal Cancer With No Symptoms?
09:04 Are Full-Body MRI Scans Worth It?
11:25 What Actually Lowers Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer?
14:10 When Should You Start Colorectal Cancer Screening?
14:50 Colonoscopy vs. Cologuard vs. Blood Test: Which Screening Is Best?
16:20 How Often Do You Need a Colonoscopy?
17:31 What Should You Look for in Your Poop?
19:29 How Bad Is Colonoscopy Prep Really?
21:45 What Makes Colonoscopy Prep Easier?
23:04 What Does Colorectal Cancer Treatment Look Like?
23:58 Can You Preserve Fertility After a Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis?
26:38 What's Missing From Colorectal Cancer Care for Younger Adults?
30:31 What's Next in Colorectal Cancer Treatment?
32:33 Are Clinical Trials a Last Resort?
33:19 How Do You Find a Clinical Trial?
35:53 Do Cancer Treatments Work Differently in Men and Women?
38:14 When Should Palliative Care Start?
40:16 Where to Find Dr. Shruti Patel
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THE RESILIENCE FACTOR WITH DR. PAMELA MEHTA:
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HOST RESOURCES:
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.pamelamehta
Become a Patient: https://www.resilienceorthopedics.com
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This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network!
ABOUT DR. PAMELA MEHTA:
Pamela Mehta, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, practice owner, chief medical officer of the Good Feet Store, and founder of the education platform Learn at Pinnacle. Dr. Mehta specializes in minimally invasive surgery, orthobiologics, and sports medicine. She helps people of all stages of life learn how to live a healthier life, longer.
Disclaimer: Pamela Mehta, MD, is a doctor, but she is not your doctor. This content is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical care.
