COLORECTAL CANCER IS INCREASINGLY COMMON in young adults not old enough to qualify for colorectal screening (such as a colonoscopy). Today we explore four key colon cancer symptoms in young adults.
Prolonged and unexplained bouts of diarrhea, stomachaches, and blood spots during bowel movements may be signs of early-onset colorectal cancer — a disease on the rise.
“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.” — William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3.
Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults is Rising
I previously wrote in Medium about colorectal cancer:
The proportion of colon and rectal cancer in individuals under age 55 doubled between 1995 and 2019. The proportion increased from 11 percent to 20 percent during this time.
Of 1.3 million people in the United States living with colorectal cancer in 2019, about 273,800 were younger than 55.
According to a 2017 study, these numbers mean that a person born after 1990 is twice as likely to receive a colon cancer diagnosis and four times more likely to hear that they have rectal cancer (than people born in 1950).
More Young Folks Have Colorectal Cancer. Why?
THE PROPORTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER in people under 55 doubled between 1995 and 2019. The proportion increased from 11…medium.com
Look at this disturbing statistic: In seven years, colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer deaths in individuals 20–49. In contradistinction, the incidence is falling for those over 50.
Early Symptoms of Colon Cancer
New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (USA), published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, provides information about the early symptoms of colorectal cancer in young people.
The study included 5,075 people with early-onset colorectal cancer. The researcher aimed to identify symptoms that signal colorectal cancer. Here are the four distinct symptoms that occurred before a colorectal cancer diagnosis:
- Abdominal pain.
- Rectal bleeding.
- Ongoing diarrhea.
- Iron deficiency anemia. When present, anemia (a low red blood cell count) is typically discovered in yearly blood tests.
All had at least one of those symptoms, beginning as early as two years before their diagnosis.
Screening tests such as colonoscopies are recommended only at or after age 45. An individual may have symptoms before they seek the guidance of a healthcare professional (or receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis). If caught early, most patients with colorectal cancer are curable.
Key Points — Colon Cancer in Young Adults
- Question. What symptoms are associated with young adults with colorectal cancer?
- Findings. The most common symptoms in young adults with colorectal cancer include abdominal pain; rectal bleeding; ongoing diarrhea; and iron deficiency anemia. Nearly half of the study participants had at least one symptom three months before a diagnosis. The risk of cancer diagnosis rose as additional symptoms popped up.
- Meaning. These symptoms should prompt a discussion with your primary care provider. Young adults must know these symptoms and act as if they have them.
Of course, symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain can be normal and temporary. However, symptoms lasting more than a week without any known cause warrant a call to your healthcare provider.
Please don’t forget to get appropriate colorectal cancer screening.
On another subject, if you know someone with breast cancer, here is my comprehensive online course:
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for reading “Colon Cancer in Young Adults: What Experts Want You to Know.”
