What to Know About This Concerning Trend
Certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer, were once primarily diagnosed in older adults. For example, in 2009, the National Cancer Institute reported the average age of Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer was 72. However, recent years have seen a rising number of cases among people under 50, prompting researchers to try to understand the underlying causes.
Factors driving colon cancer age trends
While there hasn’t been one cause tied to the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer, there have been some potential leads. Here are some of the areas being explored:
- Diets high in processed food, red meat and alcohol and low in fruits, vegetables and fiber
- Less physical activity
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Environmental factors, including pollution, pesticides and the abundance of microplastics in the body
- Microbiome (gut bacteria) disruptions
- Chronic diseases — including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and diabetes — that contribute to gut inflammation
- Certain strains of E. coli bacteria
Not only is colon cancer rising in younger adults, but the condition is also often found in later stages, which is contributing to decreased survival rates. Death rates may have fallen for older adults due to regular screenings, but the increase in young adult cases has led to colorectal cancer becoming the second leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second in women under 50.
Early signs of colorectal cancer
The uptick in cancer deaths may be due to the number of potential cancer patients ignoring warning signs. Colorectal cancer may start with uncomfortable gastrointestinal issues. Someone who considers themself to be relatively healthy could pass this off as indigestion and nothing to worry about. But as time goes on and the issue is left untreated, symptoms could start to become more frequent and severe, including:
- Sharp abdominal pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Consistent diarrhea
- Iron deficiency anemia
Before, doctors may have disregarded the possibility of colon cancer if the patient was young. Now, that’s no longer the case. In fact, some organizations have lowered the recommended colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45.
Addressing early-onset colorectal cancer
The key to effective cancer care is greater awareness and communication. While more healthcare providers are aware of the younger trend and not ruling out diagnoses based on age, patients also need to pay more attention to risk factors and symptoms and speak up sooner. The hope that certain issues will just go away could end up being costly.
Once diagnosed, it’s equally important to find the right resources, support and treatment options. The potential solution should be tailored to the individual. With research still being done, one thing is certain: earlier screening could help shape future discoveries, treatment policies and colon cancer prevention practices for this growing group of younger patients.