Colon Cancer Rates | Alternative Cancer Remedies Blog

Colon Cancer Rates Up in Those Under 50

Colon Cancer Rates | Alternative Cancer Remedies Blog

If you are in your 30s or 40s, chances are good that colon cancer is not a disease you are particularly concerned about right now unless you have a family history. This is the type of condition you almost always hear about striking much older people. Sure, there’s the occasional news headline, such as when Katie Couric’s husband, Jay Monahan, died as a result of colon cancer at the age of 42, but that’s just an anomaly. Or is it? According to new research, cases such as that are becoming more prevalent as the rate of colon cancer appears to be on the upswing in people younger than 50.

The study, which took place at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, found that colon cancer rates may have increased in both men and women under 50, and the disease is often diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage than in older patients.1 Abdelsattar, Zaid M.; et al. “Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.” Cancer. 25 January 2016. Accessed 31 January 2016. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.29716/full The subjects were close to 260,000 American adults listed in a federal database who had been diagnosed with colon cancer at some point from 1998 through 2011. Among this group, almost 15 percent–or roughly one in seven–were under the age of 50.

The scientists analyzed the data for the under-50 group versus the 50-and-over group and found some interesting trends. First, and probably due to the fact that the cancer was generally discovered when it was already more advanced in the younger patients, it was usually treated in a more aggressive manner. The younger subjects underwent surgery in 72 percent of the cases, compared to 63 percent of the older subjects. And radiation therapy was more common as well, performed on 53 percent of the younger patients versus 48 percent of the older ones.

Another interesting trend is that despite the differences in treatment, the survival rates were very similar among patients of all ages. The medical records showed that approximately 68 percent of colon cancer patients under 50 had a five-year survival rate, and those over 50 had a five-year survival rate of approximately 67 percent.

If the age at which colon cancer is being diagnosed continues to creep downward to younger and younger individuals, it might spark the medical community to recommend screenings at an earlier age. Presently, most people are not considered at risk for this disease until 50, which is when blood tests and an initial flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is typically suggested. These procedures entail the use of a flexible tube to get a view of the inner lining of the colon and spot any abnormalities. They are the standard primary forms of testing conducted to detect colon cancer. And for those with a family history of colon cancer or certain related health issues such as inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal polyps, screening might be recommended years earlier.

But with a condition such as colon cancer, there are things we can do to lessen our risk at any age. There are many contributing factors that are completely in our control. Eating a diet high in fat and low in fiber, being overweight or obese, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are all risk factors for colon cancer that we can change on our own. In fact, the high rates of obesity and lack of good nutrition and regular physical activity among many children and younger adults may well have impacted the trend toward colon cancer in those under 50. Nor is this the first research to suggest that colon cancer rates may be on the rise in younger individuals. A 2015 study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston estimated that the rates of colon cancer among people between the ages of 20 and 34 may soar an astounding 90 percent by 2030 based on current trends.2 Bailey, Christina E.; et al. “Increasing Disparities in the Age-Related Incidences of Colon and Rectal Cancers in the United States, 1975-2010.” JAMA Surgery. January 2015. Accessed 1 February 2016. http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1920838

So the message here is more than just to be proactive about going to the doctor; it’s to make the sort of diet and lifestyle improvements that can help protect you from colon cancer and other diseases as well. Skip the fast food and junky snacks and focus on consuming a more nutritious diet designed to reduce colon cancer. Exercise regularly, even if it’s just 15 or 20 minutes a day to start off. You’ll begin losing weight and feeling great, and the added bonus is you will lower your risk of developing colon cancer both before and after the age of 50.

References

References
1 Abdelsattar, Zaid M.; et al. “Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.” Cancer. 25 January 2016. Accessed 31 January 2016. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.29716/full
2 Bailey, Christina E.; et al. “Increasing Disparities in the Age-Related Incidences of Colon and Rectal Cancers in the United States, 1975-2010.” JAMA Surgery. January 2015. Accessed 1 February 2016. http://archsurg.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1920838