Younger adults are being diagnosed with late-stage colorectal cancer at a higher rate than in the past. Recent research shows that colon cancer age patterns are shifting. There is evidence of more cases of colorectal cancer in young adults being detected at advanced stages. This is highlighted in a study showing that colon cancer rates are rising in younger people.
The study was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in January 2022. It used national cancer registry data to look at colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnoses between 2000 and 2016. Researchers looked at how often colorectal cancer occurred in different age groups and races. They also studied how often it was found at a distant stage, when the cancer had already spread to other parts of the body.
Of the findings, the most significant increases in the rate of cancer were seen in younger adults. This was especially true for distant-stage (advanced) disease:
When colorectal cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, treatment is more aggressive, and the chance of recovery is smaller. This is especially concerning for colon cancer in young men and women. They may delay seeing a doctor for symptoms because they think cancer won’t happen to them.
The study found that there was an increase in colorectal cancer across several younger age groups, including:
There was also a significant increase for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients in the 20–29 age group. These results suggest that the colon cancer age is shifting to younger patients. It also means that colon cancer in young men and women, especially in certain racial and ethnic groups, is more likely to be found only after the cancer has spread.
Dr. David Karlitz, the chief of gastroenterology at the Denver Health Medical Center, indicated that the results of this study underline the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer on time. Recent recommendations have lowered the age to 45, an age that Dr. Karlitz supports.
Colorectal cancer is highly preventable with appropriate screening. Studies like these can help guide doctors in identifying which people should start screening at a younger age – for example, those with risk factors like:
For some people, especially those with a first-degree relative who had colorectal cancer at a younger age, colonoscopy may need to begin at age 40 or even earlier. This can be important for colon cancer in young men, who often overlook symptoms or assume they are too young to be at risk.
It’s important to start getting regular colonoscopies when you are 45 if you are at average risk. The gastroenterologists in San Antonio have been advocating for this lower age for several years. If you have questions, don’t delay – talk with a doctor. They can evaluate your personal risk, your family history, and any symptoms you are experiencing, even if you are in your 20s or 30s. This could very well save your life.
If you are 45 or older, or have concerns, don’t delay – schedule a colonoscopy appointment today!
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