Colorectal cancer is killing more 20- to 30-year-olds. We have some clues about why.

[BeckyDem]

The burden of the disease is shifting to younger generations — and puzzling researchers.
By Julia Belluz


It’s one of the mysteries that has puzzled cancer epidemiologists: Why are younger and younger people becoming sick with colorectal cancer?

The latest national cancer statistics from the American Cancer Society show adults under the age of 55 have seen their colorectal cancer rate increase 2 percent per year since the mid-1990s. Overall, those born in 1990 have double the risk of developing colon cancer and four times the risk of getting rectal cancer compared to those born around 1950. That’s why, in response to the alarming trend, the ACS in 2018 lowered the recommended age for routine colorectal cancer screening to 45 from 50.

“It’s not like the problem is bad and has stabilized,” said Thomas Weber, the director of surgical oncology at New York’s Northwell Health, who organizes an annual summit for researchers trying to solve the mystery. “The problem has continued to worsen.”

A recent study, published in Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, suggests the trend may be global. Looking at long-term data on colon and rectal cancer incidence in developed countries — such as Denmark, Canada , New Zealand, and the UK — the authors found increases in people younger than 50 during the most recent decade they analyzed (2004 to 2014).

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/10/11/17960514/cancer-colon-rectal-causes-younger-people

[DarthDem]

1. This Is Sad

And intriguing, but very sad. Thanks for posting it. An informative piece.

[BeckyDem]

2. I was shocked when I read it.

And yes, it is very sad.

[Mc Mike]

3. Toxic environmental factors, bad inputs during the younger peoples' developmental stages, maybe.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Maybe there's more of a tendency to consume processed food as regular meals.

With limited time for shopping and food preparation, it's easy to go to the supermarket or food store and get food-to-go. It's like a Chinese buffet. Full of fat, salt, monosodium glutamate, a lot of fried food. Hardly any roughage for proper digestion and colorectal health.

[Karadeniz]

5. That was my first thought.

[Blue_true]

9. Plus, the younger generations LOVE bacon.

When I grew up, bacon was just a little fat strip of pork and largely unprocessed. Today it has all types of chemicals in it.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. pro-inflammatory diets heavy in processed meat, red meat, organ meat, sugary beverages, and refined

Last edited Fri May 31, 2019, 07:57 PM - Edit history (1)

From the article: pro-inflammatory diets — heavy in processed meat, red meat, organ meat, sugary beverages, and refined grains

So glad I gave that all crap up so many years ago!

Well, I do have a few refined grains but not many. The rest of it - oh hell no. HELL no.

[BeckyDem]

7. yes, I think that is the concern. Its just terrible for your body.

[Maru Kitteh]

8. Terrible for you body, a disaster for the planet, great for corporations.

no thanks!

[mopinko]

10. i suspect this is about biome.

20 years ago, when my youngest was dx'd w crohn's disease, it was in the midst of a similar shift in that disease.
it was clearly a first world disease, cropping up all over the world.
there was a lot of research at that time into this new fangled idea that there might be good bacteria, and that it might be bad to sterilize every damn thing.

i would bet a crisp $20 that this will turn out to be much the same.

[BeckyDem]

11. It is possible. Thank you for adding to the thread. It is an important topic.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. 95% of Americans don't eat enough fiber.

Other major risk factors are diets high in animal products.

One MD I was listening to was talking about the keto diet and the Paleo diets. That much animal fat and no fiber will guarantee colon cancer and heart disease