Colorectal Cancer is on the Rise in Young People

As predicted by new data, 153,020 new cases of colon cancer could be diagnosed in the United States

Photo Credit: Verywell Health| Cancer Cells

According to the American Cancer Society's 2023 Colorectal Cancer Statistics, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in people under the age of 55, and the number of advanced colorectal cancer diagnoses is also increasing.

The second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States is colorectal cancer, which is also the most common cancer in men under 50. However, it is estimated that modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise account for more than half of all colorectal cancer diagnoses.

The American Cancer Society updates colorectal cancer incidence and mortality statistics every three years to track and monitor the disease. This year's study, Colorectal Cancer Facts and Statistics 2023-2025, was published March 1 in A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. It contained many important findings about the incidence of colorectal cancer in the United States.

According to data, scientists predict that by 2023 there will be 52,550 disease-related deaths and 153,020 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States. Additionally, the data suggests that men may be at greater risk than women, as men had a 33% higher rate of developing this cancer than women between 2015 and 2019. The number of people under the age of 55 diagnosed with colorectal cancer nearly doubled between 1995 and 2019. In this age group, about every tenth person was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1995; by 2019, that number had risen to one in twenty.

Statistics have also revealed changes in the rate of advanced colon cancer. For example, in the mid-2000s, about 52% of cancer diagnoses were regional or advanced. However, in 2019, 60% of diagnoses were made at an advanced stage. Anyone over the age of 45 was encouraged to take one of the screening tests offered by the American Cancer Society. These include colonoscopy, computed tomography (CTC) colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and stool tests such as the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), and the FIT-DNA test.

Despite the fact that colonoscopy is more invasive than other screening techniques, it is still considered the gold standard because of its ability to detect and remove polyps.

In a press release, the study's lead author, Rebecca Siegel, senior director of surveillance science and research at the American Cancer Society, said, "We know rates are increasing in young people, but it's disturbing to see how fast the overall patient population is Rejuvenation despite declining numbers in the general population The trend towards progressive disease in all age groups is also striking, which should motivate all people over 45 years of age to get tested.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the United States finalized Medicare rules allowing for a colonoscopy after a non-invasive screening test to ensure everyone has access to colorectal screening.