Colorectal cancer is increasing among young people. Here are the people most at risk and the symptoms to look out for

WASHINGTON — Colorectal cancer affects not only the elderly; increasingly young men and womentoo. It is now the leading cause of cancer death for Americans under 50.

Last week’s deaths of “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek, 48, and “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, 43, in 2020, highlight the risks faced by young people.

“More and more people are now developing colon cancer in the 20, 30, and 40-year age range. Early in my career, no one was getting colorectal cancer at that age,” says Dr. John Marshall of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, who has been a cancer physician for more than 30 years.

“Frankly, this trend is shaking us all,” said Marshall, who is also a medical consultant for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Here’s what you need to know about colorectal cancer and how to protect yourself at any age.

How common is colorectal cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 158,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. It is the second-leading cancer killer in the United States after lung cancer among all age groups, and is expected to claim more than 55,000 lives this year.

In terms of the overall population, the number of infected people and deaths have been gradually decreasing in recent years. This is partly due to screening tests that can detect tumors early, when they are easier to treat. It can also prevent tumors from developing if precancerous growths are found and removed.

Who is most at risk?

The majority of colorectal cancer cases and deaths continue to be in people over 50. Cancer society statistics show this group has made the most progress, with mortality rates falling by about 1.5% a year over the past decade.

However, the diagnosis of colorectal cancer is still relatively rare in people under the age of 50, although the number of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer has increased since the early 2000s.

And last month, Cancer Society researchers reported that colorectal cancer death rates among Americans under 50 have increased by 1.1% annually since 2005, making it the deadliest cancer in this age group. This year, the association estimates that 3,890 people under the age of 50 will die from the disease.

Risk factors at any age include obesity, lack of physical activity, a diet high in red and processed meat and low in fruits and vegetables, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, inflammatory bowel disease, and a family history of colorectal cancer.

Marshall advises everyone to eat lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. “Meat is not bad,” he says, but it’s better to eat less of it.

And a recent study found that a three-year exercise program improved survival rates and reduced cancer recurrence for colon cancer patients.

What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

Symptoms include bloody stools and rectal bleeding. Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea that lasts for more than a few days, constipation, or narrowed stools. Unintentional weight loss. and cramps and abdominal pain.

“Don’t ignore your symptoms and get tested,” Marshall stressed. If colorectal cancer is diagnosed early, before it has spread, the chances of survival are much higher.

When to get tested for colorectal cancer

Medical guidelines say the average person should start getting tested at age 45, which is too late for some young people.

People known to be at high risk should talk to their doctor about starting testing sooner.

How often you need to be tested depends on the type of test you choose. There are a variety of options, including annual stool-based tests and colonoscopies every 10 years unless a problem is found. There’s also a new blood test for adults over 45.

What is causing the increase in colorectal cancer among young people?

No one knows the cause of the increase in the number of infected people among young people. But Georgetown’s Marshall said many young patients lack common risk factors. He suspects that changes in young people’s gut bacteria, or microbiomes, may play a role.

Where the cancer starts in the question mark-shaped colon (starting on one side of the abdomen, swooping down to the other side and ending in the rectum) also influences how aggressive the cancer is and how it is treated. Marshall said there were significant differences in where tumors were more likely to develop in younger and older people, and other clues were being looked for.

Neergaard writes for The Associated Press.