This distinction is crucial. Unlike a mammogram or a lung scan, which are primarily imaging tests to find existing tumors, a colonoscopy allows a gastroenterologist to intervene on the spot. When a doctor finds a polyp, or a small clump of cells that can turn into cancer over time, they remove it right then and there.

The death of actor James Van Der Beek highlighted the alarming rates of colorectal cancer in younger people. The “Dawson’s Creek,” star died Wednesday at age 48. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024.

An increasing number of people are dying of colorectal cancer at a young age. The death of actor James Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, at age 48 is bringing the disease back into the limelight.

It's a rite of passage we don't look forward to: Once we turn 45, it's recommended that we get a colonoscopy to screen for polyps and colon cancer. This is especially important as rates of the disease are increasing among younger adults.

The recent deaths of actors Catherine O'Hara and James Van der Beek have brought renewed attention to colorectal cancer, a disease that disproportionately affects Kentucky residents.