Colorectal cancer in younger adults: an increasingly common concern
Colorectal cancer in younger adults: an increasingly common concern
3-minute read
Colorectal
cancer in younger adults — people between the ages of 18-50 — has increased
dramatically over the past 20 years. Colon cancer rates have risen by 15% in
younger adults since 2004, according to the American
College of Surgeons. If you
were born in the 1990s, you're more than twice as likely to develop colorectal
cancer as those born in the 1950s.
Colorectal
cancer is now the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths for men under the age of 50 and
the second leading cause of death for women in the same age range. But why are
younger adults more at risk than older adults, and what steps can you take to
mitigate your risk?
Why is colorectal cancer increasing in young adults?
There is no
straightforward answer as to why rates of early onset colorectal cancer have
increased so much in the past two decades. Researchers believe it could be due
to more
than one factor, including:
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Alcohol use
- Environmental factors
- Smoking
- Unhealthy diets that contain too many highly processed foods and not enough fruits and vegetables
Signs of colorectal cancer
Signs of
early-onset colorectal cancer can easily be overlooked or ignored. However,
staying aware of your regular bowel habits and talking to your clinician about
anything out of the ordinary could save your life.
A recent
study partially funded by the National Cancer Institute found four common
symptoms of colorectal cancer in people under age 50. They include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Rectal bleeding
Preventing colorectal cancer
You can't control your genetic factors for
colorectal cancer. However, you can
take steps to address colorectal cancer risk factors, including regular physical activity,
a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods, quitting
smoking, and limiting or eliminating alcohol.
Adults at
average risk should start colorectal cancer screenings at age 45. However, your
provider can tell you at what age they recommend you begin having regular
screenings based on your family history, lifestyle, and health history.
Colonoscopies
are the gold standard for
detecting colorectal cancer because they allow clinicians to find and remove
precancerous polyps and growths at the same time.
Colonoscopies: What to expect
- Follow the bowel prep directions from your clinician. This can include a specific diet for several days before the procedure and a laxative to clean out your bowels the day before or the day of your test, depending on the time of your scheduled colonoscopy.
- Before the procedure, you'll put on a gown, lie on a table, and be given intravenous anesthesia. You will be asleep during the procedure and won't feel any pain.
- A colonoscope will be inserted through your anus and into your rectum and colon, and your colon will be inflated with carbon dioxide to allow the doctor to have a better view.
- When the scope gets to the opening to your small intestine, it's slowly removed, and your colon is examined again upon exit.
- If polyps are found, they will likely be removed and sent to a laboratory to determine if they're cancerous or precancerous. If any abnormal tissue is found, a biopsy might be performed.
- You'll stay at the medical center until the anesthesia wears off, and then your designated driver can take you home.
Detecting colorectal cancer as early as possible leads to the best outcomes. Stay on top of the factors you can control, including getting your regular colonoscopy performed. In that case, you have a much better chance of overcoming the odds of getting colorectal cancer or beating it.
If you're concerned about your risk for colorectal cancer, request
an appointment with one of our gastroenterologists today.