What was previously known as an “old age” cancer is now causing a surge of deaths in people under the age of 50. Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, usually has a high diagnosis rate only when people reach their late 80s according to Cancer Research UK.
However young adults in high-income nations like the US, Australia and some areas in Europe have been found to be particularly at risk amid a growing surge. The American Cancer Society noted that mortality rates from bowel cancer overall has declined but cases of death in patients under 50 has nearly doubled since 1995.
The exact factors for this rise are unknown but researchers believe the surge could be due to three growing issues; dismissed symptoms, the modern lifestyle and delayed diagnosis. Bowel cancer in young people is often only diagnosed at the later stages, which has poorer outcomes for treatment.
This could be due to a lack of awareness from both patients and professionals. Experts at News Medical noted that young adults may experience things like rectal bleeding or abdominal pain and not get medical help or may get misdiagnosed with more common issues for their age group such as irritable bowel syndrome or haemorrhoids.
Other common symptoms young people should be more aware of include:
- A change in your normal bowel habit, such as looser poo, pooing more often or constipation
- A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy
- A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage even after opening your bowels
- Unexplained weight loss
- Tiredness and breathlessness
- Bowel obstructions which cause symptoms like cramping pains, feeling bloated, constipation and being sick
Some countries have lowered the age for bowel cancer screenings from 50 to 45, although on the NHS it’s currently being lowered from 54 to 50. Late stage diagnoses have a five-year survival rate at around 14% while early diagnosis could bring this up to 91%.
Recent developments in screening tools and technologies could also improve its accessibility and accuracy. Bowel cancer is currently the third most diagnosed cancer in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related death.
Meaning the threat young people are, for the most part, unknowingly facing could be dire. Cancer Research UK estimates around 54% of cases are preventable by changing your lifestyle and diet.
Diets high in red and processed meats and low in fibre, which includes the majority of Westernised diets, have been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer. Obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol and even antibiotic consumption are also linked to an increased risk.
Experts are pushing for medical intervention to adapt and evolve alongside the cancer, as reported by News Medical. This could include earlier screening and detection strategies with campaigns targeted at younger people from high-risk groups.