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New York Post
10-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Millennials born in 1990 are twice as likely to get colon cancer as Boomers born in 1950 — and that's not the worst of it
Early-onset colorectal cancer rates are surging around the world, and Millennials are in the crosshairs. According to a study published in the British Journal of Surgery, early-onset colorectal cancer, defined as cases diagnosed before age 50, has risen dramatically among both sexes in the US since the mid-1990s. While colon cancer is traditionally linked to older adults, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. Advertisement Researchers explain that in comparison to adults born in 1950, those born in 1990 are twice as likely to develop colon cancer — and a whopping four times more likely to develop rectal cancer. And folks, it gets worse. 3 While colon cancer is traditionally linked to older adults, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. Nataliya – Partially due to the assumption among care providers and patients that colorectal cancer is a disease for the elderly or middle-aged, young people tend to be diagnosed in the disease's later stages, making it harder to treat and cure. Advertisement Researchers note that younger patients are more likely to receive aggressive treatments and, due to their life stage, are faced with unique challenges in navigating care and survival. These younger patients, often diagnosed in their peak earning and reproductive years, are more likely to experience financial hardship and difficulty starting or expanding their families. Early-onset survivors are more likely to experience anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and body image issues than their older counterparts. Advertisement These recent findings are in line with a Centers for Disease Control analysis that found a 185% increase in colorectal cancer among people between 20 and 24 and a 333% increase among people between 15 and 19. Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer, are also rising in high-income countries beyond the US. An inventory of 20 European countries showed a significant spike in cases of early-onset colorectal cancer from 2004 to 2016. 'The incidence of GI cancers in adults younger than age 50 is rising globally,' said the paper's lead author, Sara Char. 'Ongoing research efforts investigating the biology of early-onset GI cancers are critical to developing more effective screening, prevention, and treatment strategies.' Due to the rise in younger cases, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021, lowering the recommended age to begin screening from 50 to 45 for adults of average risk. Advertisement 3 Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer, are also rising in high-income countries beyond the US. Crystal light – And we may need to lower it further, as a new study from Taiwan found that initiating colorectal cancer screening at 40 can reduce cases by 21% and deaths by 39% compared to starting screening at 50. Early-onset colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related death for men under 50 and the second-leading cause for women under 50 in the United States. 'It's been pretty alarming to all of us,' Dr. Coral Olazagasti, an assistant professor of clinical medical oncology at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, previously told The Post. 'In the past, you would think cancer was a disease of the elderly population. But now we've been seeing trends in recent years of people getting diagnosed with cancer earlier and earlier.' Early onset colorectal cancer disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Asian populations, with those of Native American descent reporting the highest rate of colorectal cancer of any racial and ethnic group. Among that number is Utah-based influencer Tanner Martin, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 25 and lost his five-year battle with the disease in June. Advertisement 3 Utah-based influencer Tanner Martin, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 25 and lost his five-year battle with the disease in June. The Washington Post via Getty Images A National Cancer Institute analysis from 1973 through 2009 revealed that 16.5% of American Indians/Alaska Natives, 15.4% of Hispanics, 12% of Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 11.9% of Black patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50, compared to only 6.7% of non-Hispanic white patients. Oncologists have suggested that the concerning rise in early onset diagnoses and deaths could be due to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption, and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil, and water. Advertisement A 2019 study found that US women with a BMI over 30 had close to double the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer compared to women with lower BMIs. More recently, a groundbreaking 2025 study suggested that colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli, may be behind the recent surge in early-onset colorectal cancer cases. 'We believe this exposure occurs very early in life — likely during the first decade — when children are infected,' Dr. Ludmil Alexandrov, senior study author and a professor at the University of California, San Diego, told The Post. The CDC predicts that by 2030, early-onset colorectal cancer will become the leading cancer-related cause of death for people aged 20 to 49.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Extended surgery could help lower risk of second cancer in patients with genetic condition: Study
New Delhi: In patients of Lynch syndrome -- an inherited condition -- risk of developing a second tumour could be lower among those having an extended resection, involving a removal of organs and tissues adjacent to the affected ones, compared to segmental resection , according to a study. The inherited condition increases one's risk of cancer, especially that of colon and rectum. An international collaboration, including researchers from the Institute of Human Genetics, Ahmedabad, compared the incidence of metachronous colorectal cancer -- the second cancer develops distinct from and at least six months following diagnosis of the first -- after segmental versus extended surgical resection in patients with Lynch syndrome. The analysis looked at data taken from the 'Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database', involving 8,500 patients from 25 different countries. Findings are published in the British Journal of Surgery . Once colon cancer is identified, European and American guidelines recommend considering an extended colorectal surgery for patients of Lynch syndrome carrying the 'path_MLH1' and 'path_MSH2' gene variants, and a segmental resection for those carrying the 'path_MSH6' and 'path_PMS2' gene variants. All these gene variants are associated with a higher lifetime risk of developing colorectal, gynaecological and urinary tract cancers, among others. Overall, a higher risk of metachronous colorectal cancer was found to be higher among patients who underwent segmental resection, compared to those who underwent extended surgery . For example, path_MLH1 carriers had a higher risk of metachronous (colorectal cancer) by the age of 75 years after segmental colorectal resection (69.1 per cent), compared with extended surgery (25.1 per cent), the team said. "This study has found that path_MLH1 and path_MSH2 carriers who undergo segmental resection for a first colorectal cancer were at increased risk of metachronous colorectal cancer, compared with those with no prior colorectal cancer," the authors wrote. They said the study's findings contributes to the ongoing discussion on surgical strategies for patients with Lynch syndrome. The research team also included members from the US, Europe and Australia.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Extended resection lowers Lynch-related cancer risk'
Ahmedabad: A global research comprising of 8,438 patients suffering from colorectal cancer caused by Lynch Syndrome has indicated pathways for ensuring less chances recurrence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A cohort from Ahmedabad represented India in the study. Lynch Syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common hereditary cancer condition that significantly increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer and other cancers. The condition often affects multiple generations, and in the Indian context, some studies estimate the prevalence to be one in 300 persons. More importantly, about 10-15% of colorectal cancers in India are caused by the condition compared to 2-10% in Western countries. The cancer has a high relapse rate of 17-50% in later stages. The study, ' Metachronous Colorectal Cancer Risks After Extended or Segmental Resection in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 Lynch Syndrome: Multicentre Study from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database,' was recently published in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS) by Oxford Academic. One of the authors of the study is Dr Harsh Sheth from FRIGE Institute of Human Genetics, Ahmedabad. "It is one of the biggest studies in connection with Lynch Syndrome, comprising over 65,000 person-year follow-ups and surgical data of 908 patients. The study started with the question of what is the best surgical approach after the first tumour – should the onco surgeons go for segmental resection or extended colectomy to reduce chances of relapse," said Dr Sheth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added that the study's findings indicate an equal or higher risk of developing metachronous colorectal cancer for those who already have a history. It challenges the earlier notion that screening and resection are enough. " Extended resection significantly reduces the risk of metachronous cancer (across all Lynch Syndrome genes) compared to segmental resection. There is no survival benefit in either surgery group, but there are benefits in fewer operative procedures, reduced surveillance burden, and better quality of life," said Dr Sheth. The take-home message, said experts, for the surgical guidelines is to ensure that if Lynch Syndrome is detected pre-operatively, the chances of metachronous cancer should be discussed.
