Rise Of Colorectal Cancer In Younger Adults

Thankfully, because of a few factors, mortality rates of diagnoses of colorectal cancer have been dropping fairly steadily. It is believed to be because of the advanced screening options which can help identify precancerous polyps and remove them before they turn into deadly cancer. But there is one recognized trend that has been concerning the medical experts. Among people under 50, the rates are on an upswing. The American Cancer Society has reported that there has been a steady increase in colon cancer over the past 30-50 years in younger adults.

Why Are The Rates Rising?

A key area of research is explaining which environmental factors contribute to colorectal cancer. Researchers have found that sedentary behavior, obesity, poor diet, etc., are the factors that may contribute to colorectal cancer in younger adults. Another research area is discovering why younger adults with diseases don’t have similar genetic mutations that are related to colon cancer in older individuals.

How to lower risk?

The reasons why people develop type of cancer remain unknown. However, it is important to understand the family history of colon cancer, exercise, get regular health check-ups, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and quit smoking.

Knowing that you have a family history of colon cancer can make a significant difference in finding out when to start colorectal cancer screenings and the type of treatment you receive.

Another critical step in reducing colon cancer is knowing the screening process that includes when to start and the kind of options available. ACS recommends starting screening at the age of 45 for people who are at risk of colorectal cancer. However, you may need to start screening earlier if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, a history of abdominal radiation of cancer, some hereditary syndrome, polyps, etc.