Colon and rectal is on the rise in Millennials and Gen-Zers – and there are a number of to watch out for. Prevalence rates of colorectal
cancer among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are rising rapidly, according to a report published by the
American Cancer Society earlier this year. While at the same time, rates in over 65s are declining, the report stated. Colon and rectal cancers tend to be more aggressive in young people and are often found at a more advanced stage, Caitlin Murphy, a cancer researcher at UTHealth Houston told the . Often, people affected by the form of early-onset cancer are too young to undergo regular screenings – that have helped decrease rates in over 50-year-olds. “It’s unfortunately becoming a bigger problem every year,” Dr Michael Cecchini, a medical oncologist at Yale Cancer Center, also told the outlet. He said that early-onset colorectal cancers have increased by about 2% per year since the mid-1990s. It's become the top cause of cancer deaths in men under the age of 50 and second highest cause of cancer death for
Women under the age of 50, Dr Cecchini added. Colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps – abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can become cancerous if not removed – don’t always cause symptoms, according to the CDC. The health agency recommends that anyone with the symptoms below should talk to their doctor. A change in bowel habits Blood in or on your stool after taking a bowel movement Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely Abdominal aches, pains, or cramps that don’t subside Unexplained weight loss Genetics are, in part, to blame for the prevalence of colorectal cancers in younger generations. Having a first-degree family member who had either colorectal cancer or a precancerous polyp can increase your risk, Dr Cecchini explained. Diet and lifestyle changes may also increase colon and rectal cancer in younger people – as well as older people. Binge drinking, higher consumption of red meat, ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages might be a contributing factor, research suggested. While physical activity continues to decline with only 28% of Americans hitting the US government’s weekly exercise guidelines, according to the CDC. Adversely, obesity rates have soared since the 1980s in America – but it’s not just a US problem. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) newly published ‘obesity and overweight’ fact sheet said that obesity in adults has more than doubled across the globe from 1990 – and quadrupled in teens. Nonetheless, there are outliers of healthy, athletic people who were not overweight in childhood that are still being diagnosed with colorectal cancers. Experts are beginning to investigate if there are other environmental drivers of early-onset cancer. The “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut being out of balance is one potential link looked at in small studies. Antibiotic use can alter the gut microbiome, while nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in painkillers and psychiatric medications that may be absorbed through the intestinal lining have been more widely in use in recent decades. UTHealth Houston’s Dr Murphy said it's unlikely to be a “one smoking gun that explains everything” scenario. “It’s a whole bunch of things,” she added.