Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in people under 50
By 1990, colorectal cancer ranked fifth among the causes of cancer death in people under 50. By 2023, it had risen to first
Colorectal cancer mortality rates among people under 50 have shown an annual increase of 1% since 2005, becoming the leading cause of cancer death in this age group, according to a review A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This contrasts sharply with the 44% decrease in mortality rates from other forms of cancer in the general population under 50 years of age since 1990. In 1990, colorectal cancer ranked fifth among the causes of cancer death in people under 50. However, by 2023, it had risen to the top spot. Deaths from other cancers, such as lung cancer and leukemia, have declined, highlighting the unusual growth in colorectal cancer cases. “We’ve had some success in reducing deaths from other cancers, which only magnifies the increase in colorectal cancer deaths, but the rapid increase in colorectal cancer deaths in people under 50 is still quite remarkable,” Dr. Andrew Chan, chief of the clinical and translational epidemiology unit at Massachusetts General Brigham in Boston, who was not involved in the study, told NBC News. Need for Awareness: The reason behind the rise in colorectal cancer cases in young people is not entirely clear. Factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and dietary changes are suspected to be contributing to the problem.
The trend is clear, but the cause is still not well understood, said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, who led the study.
It is critical that young people learn about their risk and seek early screening tests.
Screening and Prevention
Current guidelines suggest that universal colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45,and early for those with risk factors.
A call to action is being made for young people to get tested, especially if they experience symptoms such as blood in the stool or abdominal cramps.
The research results indicate that, in 2023, the top five causes of cancer death among people under 50 in the United States were: 1. Colorectal cancer, 2. Breast cancer, 3. Brain cancer, 4. Lung cancer, and 5. Leukemia.
Colorectal Cancer Warning Signs and Symptoms
Regarding the research, Dr. Y. Nancy You, a professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and director of its Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Program, who was not involved in the study, told CNN that it is “timely” and highlights a “warning sign.”