Most people think that colon cancer is only a risk after the age of 50. After all, that is the average suggested age for a baseline colonoscopy, right? While it is true that most people who are at average risk for colon cancer should get an initial screening at 50 years of age, a recent study shows that colon cancer is actually quite prevalent in individuals under 50.
Researchers examined 260,000 patients who were diagnosed with colon cancer between 1998 and 2001. Fifteen percent of the patients were under 50 years of age, and younger patients lived longer with a lower chance of recurrence because of treatment.
Samantha Hendren, associate professor of surgery at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, stated that she was seeing a dramatic increase in colon cancer cases among people in their 30s and 40s. Hendren, in an interview with CBS News, said that the results of the study should be a “wake-up call,” but there may not be immediate changes in the screening guidelines.
Why is colon cancer incidence increasing among the young? According to Andrew Chan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, “It is unexplained. It is not simply a change in diagnoses; it’s a very real increase. There may be an effect of our environment that could be contributing to the increase.” Chan suggested that the increase could possibly be due to lifestyle choices like smoking, obesity, a poor diet, and being sedentary.
No one is too young for colon cancer, and because it is unknown why more young people are being diagnosed with the disease, it is extremely important to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms of colon cancer. Remember, there are often no symptoms of colon cancer in the early stages. The most common symptom of the disease is dark red blood in bowel movements or having thin, pencil-like stools. If you are concerned about your bathroom habits or are experiencing unexplained weight loss or abdominal pain, do not delay in making an appointment with your primary care physician (Source: Voice of America).