Why there is an Increasing Incidence of Colon Cancer in Younger Individuals?
While there is a global decline in cancer deaths, there is a troubling increase in cancer diagnoses among individuals under 50, notably in colon cancer. This elevated risk is linked to the consumption of high-sugar and ultra-processed foods, along with sedentary lifestyles. Despite positive advancements in reducing overall cancer-related fatalities over the past 30 years, attributed to factors such as decreased smoking rates, improved treatments, regular screening, and faster diagnoses, the unfortunate reality is that more young people are now facing cancer diagnoses.
This concerning trend indicates a rise in the risk of developing certain cancers at a young age across generations since the 1950s. A recent and comprehensive study, published in the BMJ Oncology journal by researchers from Zhejiang University in China, Harvard University in the United States, and Edinburgh University in the UK, underscores an alarming 80 percent increase in cancer diagnoses among individuals under 50 globally over the last three decades.
The findings highlight a surge in early-onset cancer cases, increasing from under 2 million in 1990 to over 3 million in 2019 on a global scale. Additionally, cancer-related deaths among individuals in their 30s and 40s have seen a 27 percent increase. Astonishingly, the research reports that over a million individuals under the age of 50 succumb to cancer annually. Despite the positive advancements in overall cancer mortality rates, addressing the growing incidence of cancer among the younger demographic becomes a pressing concern.
Another study has brought attention to a troubling trend, indicating that individuals born in the early 1990s face a fourfold increase in the risk of developing rectal cancer compared to those born four decades earlier. The study attributes this surge to elevated sugar consumption, particularly in the form of sweetened drinks.
In August 2020, the world mourned the loss of Chadwick Boseman, renowned for his role as T’Challa in the movie Black Panther and recipient of numerous accolades, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award nomination. Boseman succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 43, having battled the illness for four years.
Colon cancer, in particular, has experienced a significant rise. A report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) in the previous year indicated that 20 percent of all colon cancer diagnoses in 2019 were in individuals under the age of 55. This signifies a doubling in the diagnosis rate for this specific cancer since 1995.
According to a 2024 ACS report, colon cancer has now become the leading cause of death in men under 50 and the second leading cause among women in the same age group (with breast cancer ranking first for women). Remarkably, two decades ago, it held the fourth position. Projections for the end of this decade anticipate that 10 percent of colon cancers and 22 percent of rectal cancers diagnosed in the United States will be in individuals under 50. This represents a significant increase from 4 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in 2008.
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