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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors' alarm after discovering frightening cancer is exploding in young people faster than colon cancer
The epidemic of colon cancer among young people is increasingly becoming the focus of research and alarm — but there is another form of the deadly disease that is rising even faster. Researchers from Vanderbilt University say appendiceal cancer, also known as appendix cancer, which killed actor Adan Canto at 42, is now surging among people under 50 years old. A new study found Millennials (people 29 to 44) have the highest risk of developing the cancer, with rates among those in their 30s now up to seven times higher than they were in the 1940s — and much greater than the five other age groups included in the research. Despite the surge, the cancer remains extremely rare, the researchers said, with only around 3,000 cases diagnosed every year in the US. It is not clear how many people die from the disease, but officials say if it is caught early between 67 and 97 percent of patients live longer than five years. But appendiceal cancer is concerning because it is often dismissed in the early stages for other, more benign conditions, such as food poisoning or bowel problems. It's not clear what might be causing the cancer to become more common, but researchers said this could be linked to a new 'environmental exposure' that older generations weren't exposed to. In the study, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed data from the SEER database — which collects data on cancer cases in the US. They extracted data on 4,858 patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer between 1975 and 2019, and split them into birth cohorts. Incidence rates by group were adjusted to account for age differences. Rates per 100,000 people were then compared to those for people born between 1941 and 1950, who represented the mid-point of the birth cohorts. Overall, they found Millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996 had an up to seven-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with the cancer compared to the Silent Generation, or those born between 1928 and 1945. Those in Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, had an up to two-fold higher risk of developing the cancer. And Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, had an up to 118 percent higher risk of suffering from the disease. At the other end of the scale, people in the Greatest Generation - born between 1901 to 1927 - had an up to 80 percent lower risk of suffering from the disease when they were alive. Researchers wrote in the report: 'A birth cohort effect corresponds to population shifts in environmental exposures that may increase risk for generations now entering mid-adulthood. 'The trends observed in our study may, in part, be explained by a burgeoning recognition over this past decade that appendiceal cancers are a biologically-distinct malignancy from colon adenocarcinomas. 'Well established risk factors of colon and rectal cancer, including early-life experiences, environmental exposures, anthropometric and lifestyle factors (for example, obesity, diet, alcohol, and tobacco), as well as the interaction between these factors and genetic features may also contribute to appendiceal cancer.' The appendix is a small pouch located on the side of the colon. Its exact function isn't known but researchers say it may help the immune system. In cancer in this organ, cells start to divide uncontrollably — with early symptoms such as bloating and abdominal pain often dismissed as digestive complications. In many cases, it is only when doctors remove the appendix suspecting appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix, that the cancer is diagnosed. If it is caught in the early stages, patients have a 67 to 97 percent likelihood of surviving more than five years. But for those whose cancer is not caught until it has spread, survival rates tend to be lower. Patients who have suffered from the cancer also include 39-year-old Rebecca Hind, from Cumbria, UK, who was diagnosed at the age of 33 years. She started suffering from severe stomach pain after a Christmas party at work in 2018, which she initially put down to food poisoning. But when they persisted for eight weeks, she went to doctors — who diagnosed the cancer. Hind has now had surgeries to remove 13 of her organs, more than eight grueling rounds of chemotherapy and medically-induced menopause to beat the cancer. The uptick in appendix cancer, although from a very low base, appears to be faster than that for colon cancer — with cases rising 71 percent among 30 to 34-year-olds over the two decades to 2020. Among adults aged 20 to 39 years old, estimates suggest cases have risen by two percent per year on average. In Europe, data shows between 2005 and 2016, colon cancer cases rose by eight percent per year among those aged 20 to 29 years old. In those aged 30 to 39 years old, cases rose by five percent per year overall. And among those aged 40 to 49 years, they rose by two percent per year on average.
Medscape
7 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Older Adults Are Using More Cannabis
Cannabis use in older adults is up, according to researchers who used a national survey database to study emergent patterns in older adult use of the substance. Their results were published online in JAMA Internal Medicine . After noting an upward trend in seniors using cannabis — from 1.0% in 2005 to 4.2% in 2018— a group of investigators led by Benjamin H. Han, MD, from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2021-2023 cohorts from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Their sample included 15,689 adults aged 65 years or older. More than half of the sample (54%) were women. Han and colleagues found that when compared with prior years, past-month cannabis use increased significantly across the cohorts, from 4.8% (95% CI, 3.9%-5.9%) in 2021 to 7.0% (95% CI, 6.2%-8.0%) in 2023. In a subanalysis, the investigators found that increased prevalence in past month cannabis use was associated with multiple demographic factors. Both women and men showed increased trends, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.32 (1.10-1.59) in women and an OR of 1.18 (0.97-1.43) in men. Increased past month cannabis use was also observed in older adults with a minimum $75,000 annual income, those with college or postgraduate degrees, those who were married, and those living in a state with legalized medical cannabis. Further subanalysis of the survey respondents by race showed that persons who identified as 'other' sustained the highest OR of increased use, OR = 2.26 (1.12-4.59). Older adults with the highest incomes previously were found to have the lowest prevalence of cannabis use compared with other income levels, but by 2023, they had the highest usage increase. The study authors suggested this could be due to their ability to afford medical cannabis. Although an increase in past-month cannabis use was associated with a number of medical conditions, the researchers wrote that they were unable to cleanly sort recreational from medical use. People with chronic diseases, especially those with multiple conditions, saw a spike in cannabis use. The most common medical condition recorded was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and two or more chronic conditions also noted to have increased prevalence (6.4%-13.5%). 'The substantial increased prevalence in states with legalized medical cannabis highlights the importance of structural educational support for patients and clinicians in those states,' Han and colleagues wrote. 'The use of cannabis products, especially with psychoactive properties, may complicate chronic disease management among older adults.' A cannabis researcher not involved in Han and colleagues' study agreed. 'One of the most important findings was that those in residence in a state where medical cannabis is legal at the time of interview also showed greater increases in cannabis use,' said Elise Weerts, PhD, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Medical School, in Baltimore, in an interview with Medscape Medical News . Weerts is also a researcher at the Cannabis Science Laboratory at Johns Hopkins. Meanwhile, in an accompanying editorial, experts pointed to how, despite a lack of consistent data on cannabis use in older age, its use is growing as it is increasingly legalized. 'Existing therapeutic evidence for medical cannabis in older adults has been inconsistent across several conditions, with many studies suggesting possible benefits, while others finding limited benefit,' the authors of the editorial wrote. 'The potential harms of cannabis use in older adults are apparent, with increased risks of cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal conditions, stroke, sedation, cognitive impairment, falls, motor vehicle injuries, drug-drug interactions, and psychiatric disorders,' they wrote. The editorial authors stated concerns about scant evidence and a lack of standards around administering cannabis in this patient population. 'Existing therapeutic evidence for medical cannabis in older adults has been inconsistent across several conditions, with many studies suggesting possible benefits, while others finding limited benefit,' they wrote. 'Much of the evidence for benefit derives from a single or a small number of studies with nonrandomized designs, and very few studies evaluated harms, making the benefit to risk ratio unclear.' The editorialists also pointed to the frustration older adult users of cannabis feel around 'the lack of awareness and education about age-related issues' at cannabis dispensaries and even in healthcare workers. The study's findings did not surprise Weerts, who said she has been tracking similar data elsewhere. She said she agreed with the editorial writers that the gap between cannabis use and the understanding of its potential adverse effects or contraindications is widening. 'I am concerned that older adults using cannabis may not be aware of the risks, and that data supporting its efficacy for medical purposes are still not available,' Weerts said. 'We need randomized placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate any potential benefits and also track any adverse effects and potential harms.'
CNET
23-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Colon Cancer Explained: What You Can Do to Identify and Prevent It
Colon cancer is now a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the past few years, colorectal or colon cancer (not to be confused with stomach or gastric cancer) has become a hot topic with news of celebrities -- such as Chadwick Boseman -- dying after battling the disease. In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 107,320 new cases of colon cancer in the US, with 54,510 new cases in men and 52,810 in women. And while colon cancer rates dropped by about 1% each year from 2012 to 2021, this was mostly in older adults. For people younger than age 55, rates have increased by 2.4% each year from 2012 to 2021. New research in April sparked further conversation around gut bacteria and colon cancer. The study published in the journal Nature suggests that certain strains of bacteria, such as E. coli, can then produce a bacteria toxin called colibactin. Studies as far back as 2006 have concluded that colibactin can alter the DNA of colon cells, increasing the risk of tumors and cancer. While all the recent chatter around colon cancer is alarming, new studies are also showing promising data around the positive impact of exercise on colon cancer survivors and long-term survival. Here are the signs of colon cancer, the risk factors and what you can do to prevent it. What is colon cancer? The colon is a part of the large intestine; colon cancer forms here when there's an abnormal growth of polyps that form into cancerous cells over time. According to the Mayo Clinic, the polyps are small and may cause few to no symptoms. Regular screening is recommended, particularly if you have risk factors or are showing signs of colon cancer. According to a report from Yale University, colon cancer tends to grow differently in men compared with women. Rates of colon cancer are lower among women, but they're also more likely to develop right-sided colon cancer, a more aggressive type of colon cancer. Colon cancer signs Bleeding from the rectum Blood in the stool Bowels don't feel empty Change in your bowel movements or stool consistency Constipation or diarrhea Regular stomach pain, discomfort or cramps Sudden weightColon cancer risk factors Increased risk factors for colon cancer include: You're 50 years or older Family history of colon cancer Chronic inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease Poor diet that's high in fat and low in fiber Alcohol Smoking An inactive lifestyle Obesity Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are great food choices if you want to start healing your gut. piotr_malczyk/Getty Images Ways to reduce the risk of colon cancer
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Common Parasite Rips The Face From Your Cells to Wear as a Disguise
New research has shown how the parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica takes bites from your cells to use as a disguise, hiding them from the immune system. Entering the body via contaminated food or water, most infections from the parasite cause diarrhea, if any symptoms at all. In particularly bad cases, the amoeba can spread via the bloodstream to other vital organs, where it can cause serious problems. If the infection reaches the liver, for instance, the amoebic abscesses it creates can be fatal, causing complications that claim the lives of almost 70,000 people each year. Exactly how this tiny monster wreaks such havoc in its host was largely unknown, until microbiologist Katherine Ralston – currently at the University of California Davis, but back then posted at the University of Virginia – investigated the amoeba more closely in 2011. The going theory was that E. histolytica injected a poison into its victim cells. But Ralston saw something very different going on through her microscope. E. histolytica was taking what looked like actual bites out of human cells. "To devise new therapies or vaccines, you really need to know how E. histolytica damages tissue," Ralston says. "You could see little parts of the human cell being broken off." Stranger still, the amoeba seemed satisfied with just a few chomps from each cell's membrane before moving on to its next victim, leaving in its wake a slew of half-chewed cells with cytoplasms oozing from their puncture wounds. "It can kill anything you throw at it, any kind of human cell," Ralston says. It can even take a chomp out of the white blood cells that are meant to swallow such intruders. Now, Ralston and her colleagues Maura Ruyechan and Wesley Huang have discovered this seemingly wasteful habit actually allows E. histolytica to gather outer membrane proteins from the human cells, which it proceeds to arrange on the surface of its own body for protection against defences in the blood. Surprisingly, this disguise doesn't just protect it from human immune 'guards': it works on immune responses present in the blood of other species, too. "It has become clear that amoebae kill human cells by performing cell nibbling, known as trogocytosis," the authors write. "After performing trogocytosis, amoebae display human proteins on their own surface and are resistant to lysis [rupture] by human serum [a component of blood]." This molecular disguise prevents our immune system from launching an attack on the amoeba by presenting chemical tags that identify it as safe, a bit like stealing the ID off a security guard. When E. histolytica dons the human proteins CD46 and CD55, it can safely scoot past the 'complement proteins' tasked with tracking down and destroying foreign cells. This allows it to continue chomping away, forming abscesses full of liquified cells in the organs it inhabits. Intriguingly, the team conducted an experiment in which they allowed the amoeba to collect material from human cells before exposing the 'disguised' parasites to mouse blood serum. "Although mice are not a natural host of E. histolytica, experimental infection of mice with amoebae mimics many aspects of the human infection, ranging from immune responses to the host genetic determinants of susceptibility to infection," the authors write. Its camouflage was effective despite originating from an entirely different species, reflecting similarities between human and mouse complement protein security systems. This knowledge will allow the researchers to further investigate treatments and vaccines for the amoeba using mouse models, before proceeding to human trials. "Science is a process of building," Ralston says. "You have to build one tool upon another, until you're finally ready to discover new treatments." This research has not yet been peer-reviewed, but it is available as a pre-print in bioRxiv. Scientists '3D Print' Material Deep Inside The Body Using Ultrasound The Secret to Happiness Seems to Depend Upon You, Study Finds Drinking Alcohol Before Hitting The Sauna Could Be a Deadly Combo
Wall Street Journal
13-05-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
The Latest in Hernia Repair: New Techniques, New Research
Hernias can be an unnerving manifestation of the body's wear and tear, creating a sudden bulge in the groin or abdomen when part of an internal organ or tissue—such as the intestine—pushes through the surrounding muscle or tissue. As the population ages, the incidence of hernias is increasing in the U.S. And research shows several age-related factors, such as weakened abdominal muscles, can make hernias harder to treat successfully. Researchers at the University of Michigan's Michigan Medicine found that about 1 in 6 older Americans who had undergone an operation to repair a hernia had repeat surgery less than 10 years later.
