When it comes to cancer, the body is not only where disease develops, but also where some of the most promising advances in treatment and prevention are taking shape. From breakthrough therapies to practical, evidence-based steps that may help lower risk, the body is central to both care and prevention.
The following insights come from a recent Cary Council gathering, where members and guests heard directly from two UT Southwestern Medical Center clinician-scientists on the front lines of cancer prevention and treatment. Their talks traced a clear throughline: what we do today in terms of screening and lifestyle choices, combined with innovations in research, can help change the outcomes of tomorrow.
Colorectal surgeon and researcher Emina Huang, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S., M.B.A., has been pursuing an urgent question: why are more young adults getting colorectal cancer? Her answer is part warning, part roadmap, and a call to action.
Breast cancer oncologist and immunotherapy researcher Heather McArthur, M.D., M.P.H., is focused on a different frontier: the promise of immunotherapy in cancer treatments. How do we mobilize the immune system to recognize cancer and keep it under control, not for weeks or months, but for good?
Together, their sobering message was delivered with just enough humor and actionable takeaways that the audience not only stayed for an extended Q&A but also followed up with requests for even more information. They left with an understanding that prevention and innovation aren’t competing priorities. They are a continuum.
Key Takeaways
- Colorectal cancer is decreasing overall, but rising in adults under 50.* That reversal is reshaping screening and urgency.
- Screening saves lives, and symptoms shouldn’t be brushed off. Persistent abdominal pain, bowel habit changes, bleeding, or weight loss deserve attention. You are your own best advocate.
- Exercise has been shown time and time again to have a tangible impact on cancer treatment programs, as well as a major factor in preventing cancer and other diseases.
- Immunotherapy has been shown to create unusually durable breast cancer responses, especially when paired thoughtfully with other treatments.
- Breakthroughs need philanthropy. Early support helps researchers generate the data that larger funders and industry typically require.
“Colorectal cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in people under 50.*”
Emina Huang, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.R.S., M.B.A.
The Colorectal Cancer Trend We Can’t Ignore
Dr. Huang started with the good news. Overall colorectal cancer rates are decreasing. The screenings, prevention, and awareness tactics have all led to improved numbers.
However, there’s an anomaly in the numbers that’s become impossible to ignore. Colorectal cancer rates are rising for people under 50, becoming the number one cancer cause of death in that age group.* Most of us have seen it in our social media feeds and pop culture news as well, with high-profile, public figures like James Van Der Beek and Chadwick Boseman. The shift isn’t just statistical, either. It’s personal and disruptive, because it hits adults in the middle of building careers and raising families. Younger patients often have children at home, and treatment can force painful tradeoffs between care and income.
Why Might Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Be Rising?
It’s hard to point at one thing and say ‘this is the reason.’ Dr. Huang is also careful not to oversimplify. She describes it as multifactor tangle of early-life exposures, diet patterns, sedentary behavior, environmental factors, water quality, and even potential changes in the microbiome. Many of these pathways converge on metabolic health and chronic inflammation.
The why may be hard to nail down, but the how is becoming clearer through research.
The “tumor neighborhood” concept: stiffness, scarring, and a hidden head start
One of Dr. Huang’s most striking scientific observations is that early-onset colorectal tissues appear stiffer, with signs of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Her team is investigating what may be causing these tissue differences with increased stiffness not only in tumors, but also in the surrounding tissue.
To study this, her lab grows a miniature version of a colon using patient tissue to see if these areas of stiffness and inflammation cause tumors to originate in these so-called tumor neighborhoods.
What Can We Do Now To Address Colon Cancer?
Dr. Huang’s call to action is simple.
1. Colon Cancer Screening
Because younger adults are increasingly affected, screening recommendations have shifted. Many average-risk adults should begin routine colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Those with family history or higher-risk factors may need earlier evaluation.
2. Be Your Own Advocate
Don’t normalize persistent red flag symptoms. Especially in younger patients, symptoms can be dismissed as hemorrhoids or IBS. Don’t brush it off. Be persistent and advocate for further testing.
3. Be More Active
Perhaps the most surprising message is also the most attainable. Exercise and physical activity have shifted from a “nice to have,” to an evidence-backed portion of a treatment plan and preventative measure. A structured exercise program after treatment improved outcomes compared with health education alone.
The Potential of Breast Cancer Immunotherapy Treatments
Dr. McArthur opened her presentation with a staggering statistic as well. There are roughly two million new breast cancer diagnoses in the world every year, and almost 300,000 in the U.S. alone.
Prevention and Screening for Breast Cancer is Key
While there are exciting and innovative treatments around immunotherapy, Dr. McArthur stresses the importance of prevention. Here are some of the ways you can reduce the risk of breast cancer or catch it early enough to treat it:
- Get routine screenings (annual mammograms starting at age 40)
- Some women should get annual MRI screenings depending on their risk level. Use this online risk calculator to assess your own lifetime risk of breast cancer and talk to your doctor
- Limit alcohol intake
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly (at least 150 min of moderate aerobic activity or 75 min of vigorous aerobic activity weekly, plus strength training at least twice a week)
- Eat a healthy diet
- Breastfeed after childbirth (when possible)
The Concept of Immunotherapy
Dr. McArthur also shared what’s on the frontier of harnessing the immune system to fight cancer. The idea sounds almost too good to be true: train the body’s own defenses to recognize cancer, attack it, and keep it from coming back.
In a case study, Dr. McArthur shared that the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer showed extraordinary potential for long-term remission and longer life expectancy.
Pairing Immunotherapy with Radiation Bursts and Freezing
One of the most compelling concepts Dr. McArthur shared was the innovative ways researchers are trying to improve immunotherapy responses.
She describes pairing immunotherapy with targeted radiation bursts that break tumors into smaller pieces. This creates inflammation that draws immune cells in to attack the smaller tumor pieces.
She also discusses tumor freezing as another way to create the right inflammatory conditions and expose tumor material to the immune system.
Why This Matters and The Role of Philanthropy
The economics of discovery aren’t always simple. Outside-of-the-box research ideas and innovative treatment combinations often need alternative support to get off the ground. The questions that have arisen from the staggering statistics around colorectal cancer and breast cancer require more than talented scientists. It requires the backing of a community of philanthropists investing in early experiments, pilot data, and the willingness to bet on big ideas other than just the safe ones. That’s where the mission of Southwestern Medical Foundation comes into focus: connecting community leaders who are members of The Cary Council to UT Southwestern so scientists and clinicians can take the necessary steps that lead to life-saving care.
FAQs
Why is colorectal cancer rising in adults under 50?
Researchers suspect multiple causes such as environmental factors, diet, sedentary lifestyle, microbiome changes, and chronic inflammation.
When should average-risk adults start colorectal cancer screening?
Many guidelines recommend starting at age 45 for average-risk adults, with earlier screening for some higher-risk individuals.
What are colorectal cancer “red flag” symptoms?
Persistent abdominal pain, bowel habit changes, rectal bleeding, or unexplained weight loss should prompt medical evaluation as soon as possible.
What is immunotherapy in breast cancer?
Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells and can produce long-lasting responses in certain breast cancer subtypes.
How can you take measures to prevent metastatic breast cancer?
Limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, get routine screenings, and breastfeed after childbirth (when possible).
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*Colorectal cancer statistics, 2020
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Volume: 70, Issue: 3, Pages: 145-164, First published: 05 March 2020, DOI: (10.3322/caac.21601)
