Can alcohol use increase my father's colon cancer risk?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am concerned about the risk of colon cancer for my father. He is 53 years old. From ages 20 to 49, he was a high-functioning alcoholic, but he has been non alcoholic for the past three years. He also smoked cigarettes moderately during that time.

For approximately one year, he has been adhering to a carnivore diet but takes milk and eats overnight oats for breakfast daily. He has a height of 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 170 pounds, having weighed above 200 pounds prior to the diet. He is physically active but moderately.

Regrettably, he has not taken any tests or screenings so far. His medical history includes being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD, for which he manages using weed. Also, he has tried some recreational drugs, although I am unsure about which specific ones. He has a problem with acid reflux.

On his maternal side, his grandmother had to have polyps removed multiple times, but as far as I know, they were not cancerous. Aside from a couple of cancerous moles, there is no significant cancer history in our family.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Your father is 53, placing him in the average-risk age group for colorectal cancer screening. Current guidelines recommend that screening begin at age 45, even for those without symptoms.

His risk factors include a history of heavy alcohol use and smoking, both of which increase colorectal cancer risk, as well as a long-term high intake of processed and red meat.

Additionally, unexplained weight loss should always be evaluated, and he has a family history of polyps through his grandmother, which slightly raises vigilance but is not considered high-risk.

On the positive side, he engages in physical activity, maintains a normal BMI (body mass index), and is currently non-alcoholic. The most crucial step now is to prioritize screening over speculation.

A colonoscopy should be performed since this is the best approach since it helps in detecting precancerous polyps and even removing them. It is also recommended that basic blood tests are done including the complete blood count and liver function tests.

In case of any reflux problem, an upper endoscopy will be required depending on the symptoms. It should not be overlooked, even if he is feeling fine, as he might have colon cancer, as it is possible that colon cancer does not show any symptoms.

While he is not classified as high-risk, he is definitely overdue for screening, and encouraging him to proceed with a colonoscopy is the most impactful action you can take.

I hope this information helps with your situation. Please share your valuable feedback to improve patient care, and let me know if you have any further questions.

Thank you.