Why is this important
Rates of colon and rectal cancer have increased among young adults, while rates have decreased among older adults, who are much more likely to have colonoscopies that detect cancers and precancerous lesions called polyps.
But even though millennials born around 1990 have almost twice the risk of colon cancer as people born in the 1950s, and have a four times higher risk of rectal cancer, young people without a significant family history of breast cancer colon are not. eligible for colonoscopies until age 45.
Doctors may also not notice warning signs. Anecdotal evidence suggests that because doctors are less likely to suspect malignancies in young people, they may attribute a symptom like rectal bleeding to a benign condition like hemorrhoids, rather than cancer, said Joshua Demb, cancer epidemiologist at the University of California, San Diego. , and one of the main authors of the article.
According to the analysis, from the time young adults first visit a caregiver to complain of a symptom to the time they receive a diagnosis, it can take four to six months on average. Because diagnosis is often delayed, younger adults tend to have more advanced disease that is more difficult to treat.
“We need to facilitate early detection, and one way is to identify these red flags,” Dr. Demb said.
What we don’t know
The causal factors behind the increase in colon and rectal cancers among young adults were not addressed in the new analysis and are not well understood.
Colorectal cancer has long been associated with obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, high alcohol consumption and a diet high in red meat, processed foods and sugary drinks.
New research exploring the rapid increase in colorectal cancer among young adults examines other possible causes, including environmental exposures, changes in gut bacteria and the use of certain medications, such as antibiotics.
News Source : www.nytimes.com
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