RALEIGH, N.C. — Colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under age 50, and second for women under age 50, according to a report recently released by the American Cancer Society. 

A colon cancer survivor in Raleigh is urging people to take preventative measures by getting checked.

Brooks Bell was diagnosed with colon cancer when she was 38 years old. She is now cancer free.

Bell works with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and says the statistics are alarming. 

“The diagnoses of people under the age of 50 has gone up 50% since the 90s, and by 2030 it will have gone up 90% in people under the age of 35. So it’s striking 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds, 50-year-olds, but it’s getting younger and younger and that is very, very concerning. And doctors really haven’t figured out why that is,” Bell said.

Bell hopes to help inform the public about the importance of getting a colonoscopy. The recommended age for a screening is now 45 years old. 

“Even mammograms, they don’t prevent breast cancer. They just tell you if you have a lump and then they have to go in and actually treat it separately. A colonoscopy finds it, treats it, removes it, clears you out, on the spot same day while you are asleep, 30 minutes, boom – you’re done,” Bell said. 

You can view the latest statistics from the American Cancer Society here and listen to the full interview from ACS spokesman Dr. Bruce Waldholtz in the video above.