Have you heard the good news? Colon and rectal cancer incidence and mortality are decreasing! Before we start celebrating too much, there are some sobering statistics too. Young onset colon cancer is rapidly increasing, and it is expected to increase by 90 percent by 2030, according to SEER data.
New cases of colorectal cancer among Americans between the ages of 20 and 34 are being diagnosed at an alarming rate. There are many reasons for this increase. First of all, most of us assume that colon cancer only affects older individuals. While it is true that age is one of the most significant risk factors for this type of cancer, you are never too young for colon cancer. In fact, there are some genetic diseases, such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, which can significantly increase the risk of colon cancer.
Secondly, the Western diet is full of processed foods, preserved foods, red meats and saturated fats. Combining a Western diet and a sedentary lifestyle often results in obesity and diabetes, which are precursors to cancer.
The best prevention for colon cancer is a colonoscopy, but this lifesaving screening is usually recommended for adults 50 years of age or older. Very few young people undergo colonoscopies, which means that colon cancer in younger individuals is usually diagnosed at advanced stages. Even when symptoms such as abdominal pain and blood in the stool are present, doctors often may diagnose the problem as hemorrhoids or a GI disorder.
Christopher Lieu, MD, assistant professor in the division of medical oncology at University of Colorado Denver’s School of Medicine, believes that the dramatic increase in young onset colon cancer is due to many factors.
“A diet that is high in red meat and processed food will increase your [cancer] risk, but it only slightly increases the risk for colon cancer, so there has to be something else going on,” Lieu said. “It is most likely a combination of diet, environment and genetics. It is not all one or the other.”
As the age of colon cancer diagnosis decreases, oncologists and gastroenterologists will have to establish broader screening parameters. Prevention and treatment methods must evolve in future years to identify new cases of colon cancer among the young (Source: Healio).