Health care
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Due to changes in lifestyle and a greater emphasis on screenings, the overall rate of people in the U.S. being diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer has dropped each year since the 1980s, according to the American Cancer Society. Despite the overall decrease, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under age 50 and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women under age 50, according to a 2024 report by the ACS. The incidence rate of new colorectal cancer cases among people younger than 55 years old almost doubled from 11% to 20% from 1995 to 2019, according to the ACS. In light of recent trends, the Colon cancer rates up for young adults
Colorectal cancer incidence rates Men Women
*CASES PER 100,000 POPULATION PER YEAR
15 12
Men: +36.6% Women: +32.2%
9 6 0
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year
SOURCE: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“This is a problem for us, and the trend is increasing, so we have to see what’s going on," Siddiqui said. As colorectal cancer is often preventable or treatable through early detection, many groups are looking to increase access to screenings.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended screening age for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45 years old in 2021. Dr. Junaid Siddiqui, a gastroenterologist at St. David’s Georgetown, said medical experts are still exploring what might be causing the trend.
The impact
What you need to know
Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
People should receive a colonoscopy if they are 45 years old or older, or have a family history or symptoms of colorectal cancer, said Dr. Thiru Lakshman, a surgeon at Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists. “The problem with the younger generation is that [they] don’t think about getting a colonoscopy if [they’re] otherwise young and healthy,” he said. Colorectal cancer is often detected in younger patients in the later stages once more aggressive tumors have formed, he said. While doctors are unsure of why younger people are developing colorectal cancer, it could be due to environmental factors such as diet, he said.
Changes in bowel movements Blood in stool
Abdominal pain Bloating Weight loss
Texas ranks 45th for the rate of people between the ages of 45-75 who have received a recommended colon screening, according to recent National Cancer Institute data. Doctors and experts said inequities in the health care system, socioeconomic factors and a lack of health care insurance are barriers to people getting screened. Advocacy organization Fight Colorectal Cancer will continue to support research focused on the rise in colorectal cancer among young people, vice president of disease awareness Danielle Ripley-Burgess said.
Factors that may prevent colorectal cancer from developing include:
Not smoking Avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption Avoiding red meats
Eating a high-fiber diet with fruits and
vegetables Exercising
Maintaining a normal weight
SOURCES: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, TEXAS ONCOLOGY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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