Colorectal Cancer Increasing in Young Adults
People Below the Age of 50 Have Added Risk of Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. and there are 150,000 new cases each year. The death toll from this cancer is 50,000 every year. Although scientists aren't sure why this cancer is attacking more of the younger generation they do have a few suspicions. Study says colorectal cancer increasing in young adults by 2 percent each year in certain groups.
Figures Among the Young Adults
Even though colorectal cancer over-all has been on the decline, they attribute this fact to more widespread screening. If they can find the cancer early enough, they can treat it successfully. For white men ages 20 to 49, there were 8.4 cases out of 100,000 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer during the years of 1992 to 1995. They did the study again in the years 2002 to 2005 and found that the rate had risen to 10.2. This is a 21 percent increase in a ten-year period.
They conducted the same study on women ages 20 to 49. In the years 1992 to 1995, the rate was 6.9. They did the study again in the years of 2002 to 2005 and those numbers had risen to 8.8, which mean a 28 percent increase.
They did the same sturdy with Latinos. The increase was 33 percent for men, but not statistically significant for women. There was no increase for African-Americans, but unfortunately, this group of 20 to 49-year-old men and women has a higher risk. Their numbers are 12.7 and 10.8 cases per 100,000.
Reasons for the Increase Among Young Adults
Researchers believe the reasons for the increase in colorectal cancer in the younger generation are from changes in the American lifestyle. Diets that consist of a high intake of red and processed meat and diets that are low in milk and calcium have been liked as the possible cause. As a nation, many of the young eat hamburgers and sodas at fast-food places. The result is not only a rise in cancer, but also a rise in obesity and low physical activity. The American Cancer Society recommends that people eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Exercise should be done for at least 30 minutes for five days a week. This will help protect against cancer, but in not a 100 percent protection against a person having colorectal cancer.
Screening Usually Not Considered When Patient is Below Age 50
For most people under the age of 50, screening for colorectal cancer is generally not done. Doctors do the screening only when the patient has a family history, chronic inflammatory bowel disease or a predisposing genetic condition. Since they don't screen most patients below 50, this gives the benign polyps time to turn into invasive cancer.
In a report from the Los Angeles Times Health , by Jill U. Adams, June 22, 2009, Dr. Clifford Ko, UCLA surgeon reported a similar increase in 20 to 39-year-olds with colorectal cancer. In 2004 after a surgical doctor operated on two patients with colon cancer and they were under the age of 40. Ko said that it is rare to screen people under 50 because the numbers aren’t high enough to make them suspect cancer. If the cancer rate rises, then screening guidelines might have to be revised to include the younger adults. The other reason young adults aren’t tested is the cost and risks of screening that make this routine test of colorectal cancer questionable especially in a population that is still at a low risk.
Ko goes on to say that colorectal cancer should not be ruled out if a person under 50 comes in bleeding and that bleeding is not due to hemorrhoids. Doctors need to be aware of the possibility and not rule it out because of age.
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