Study finds colorectal cancer is on the rise among people under 50 around the world | Colorectal cancer

The number of people under the age of 50 being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is increasing around the world, and the rate of colorectal cancer is rising rapidly worldwide, according to research. england more than most other countries.

For the first time, global data suggests that doctors are seeing an increase in the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in young people, from Europe and North America to Asia and Oceania.

Increases were reported in 27 of the 50 countries surveyed, with the highest annual increases in New Zealand (4%), Chile (4%), Puerto Rico (3.8%) and England (3.6%). .

Experts are still in the early stages of understanding the reasons behind the increase. The authors of the study Published in Lancet OncologyConsumption of junk food, lack of high levels of exercise and the prevalence of obesity are likely contributing factors, he said.

“The rise in early-onset colorectal cancer is a global phenomenon,” said Hyuna Song, principal investigator of the Cancer Surveillance Study. American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. “While previous research had shown that this increase was occurring primarily in high-income Western countries, it is now being recorded in a variety of economies and regions around the world.”

The increasing trend of colorectal cancer among young people is now so pronounced that it may also lead to an increase in the incidence among older people, whose incidence has been flat or declining for decades. It has the potential to reverse progress against this disease.

“The global scope of this worrying trend highlights the need for innovative tools to prevent and control cancers associated with dietary habits, physical inactivity and excess body weight,” said Song. .

“Continued efforts are essential to identify further factors behind these trends and develop effective prevention strategies tailored to young people and community resources around the world.”

The study found that bowel cancer rates among people aged 25 to 49 increased in 27 of the 50 countries surveyed in the 10 years up to 2017 (the most recent year for which figures were analyzed). .

It was found that young women's incidence of early-stage colorectal cancer increased faster than men if they lived in the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Turkey, Costa Rica, or Scotland.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death, with more than 1.9 million new cases and almost 900,000 new cases worldwide in 2022. It is responsible for 4,000 deaths.

Michelle Mitchell, CEO cancer Research UK says: “This flagship study reveals that the increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer, affecting adults aged 25 to 49, is a global problem.

“Relatedly, this research reveals for the first time that interest rates are rising more rapidly in the UK than in many other countries around the world. It has a significant impact on patients and their families. Therefore, although it is important to note that the prevalence in young adults is still very low compared to those over 50 years old, we are not aware of this trend in younger people. We need to understand the cause.”

The study had several limitations. Colorectal cancer incidence rates are only reported through 2017, so they may not accurately reflect current trends. The studies also often use data from local registries, which represent a small portion of a country's population, which may limit generalizability at the population level.

David Robert Grimes, assistant professor of biostatistics at Trinity College Dublin, who was not involved in the study, urged caution when interpreting the findings. “Comparing international data on cancer incidence is a difficult task because there is considerable variation in data quality and availability…We must resist the urge to jump to conclusions, especially in the case of contradictory and complex data. “It has to be,” he said.

The rate of increase in bowel cancer in people under 50 was also much lower in Wales (1.55%), Scotland (0.64%) and Northern Ireland (0.54%) than in England, raising further questions about the data.

Katrina Brown, senior manager of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said it was “difficult to say with certainty” why infection rates in the UK were rising faster than in other UK countries. “More research is needed to understand whether there are real differences between countries and how to address them,” she said.

He added that the overall number of cases among young adults remains low, with only around one in 20 people under the age of 50 being diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK.

Mr Song said it was important for more people to know the symptoms. “Increasing awareness among young people and primary care providers about the trends and distinctive symptoms of early-onset colorectal cancer, such as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss. , which will help reduce delays in diagnosis and lower mortality rates,” she said.