Colorectal cancer on the rise in young adults

While colorectal cancer, called colon cancer, is often thought of as a disease that primarily affects older people, recent studies suggest that more younger Americans are being diagnosed with the disease. Since colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United Statesthis trend should be taken seriously.

In February, the American Cancer Society reported that 20% of colon cancer cases were in people aged 55 and under — an increase over 1995 when 11% of cases occurred in this age group. Other research also shows the incidence of colon cancer in people under 50 has steadily increased over the past decades, as has the number of young people dying from the disease.

Early detection is crucial when it comes to colon cancer, and screenings are an essential part of maintaining good health.

“Diagnosing colon cancer at an early stage is essential because the survival rate can be as high as 90%,” said Karl Kwok, MD, gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. “With regular screenings and the technology available today, we can detect advanced precancerous polyps and, in many cases, remove them using techniques that do not require surgery or a hospital stay.”

Colon cancer usually starts in the colon or rectum from precancerous cancer polyps or growths. The disease does not usually cause symptoms until it spreads, so screening is essential. If detected early, precancerous polyps can be removed before they turn into cancer, or the cancer can be detected in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable.