Comer’s story comes as she continues to advocate for earlier colon screenings, emphasizing that a timely colonoscopy could have altered her outcome. When Comer had her initial blood test at 47, the recommended age for a colonoscopy was 50.
“Since then, the screening age has been lowered to 45. If that had been the case when I was 47, I would have been inconvenienced for maybe 18 months, but it would not have been a life-threatening diagnosis,” Comer said.
“I’m persistent. I keep repeating the same message – get screened early, consider it, talk to your doctor,” she added.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and the fourth leading cause among women in the U.S., with approximately 52,900 deaths expected this year.
While overall diagnoses have declined since the mid-1980s due to increased screenings and lifestyle changes, the American Cancer Society warns that cases among people under 50 have risen by 2.5 percent annually from 2012 to 2021.
Medical professionals advise individuals with a family history of colon cancer to get screened at 40 or earlier, depending on when a family member was diagnosed.
