Study: Colon Polyps Found Earlier in Men

Men may need earlier testing for colon cancer than women, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at colonoscopy results for 44,350 adults. Their average age was just under 61. All took part in a national screening program in Austria. Nearly 25% of men had pre-cancerous tumors (polyps). The rate was 15% among women. About 19% of men ages 50 to 54 had polyps. Women didn’t have polyps at this rate until they were much older — ages 65 to 69. The rate of polyps was 11% among women in their early 50s. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it September 27.