Colorectal Cancer Becomes Top Killer for Men Under 50 as Screening Starts at 45
Updated
Updated · First Alert 4 · May 13
Colorectal Cancer Becomes Top Killer for Men Under 50 as Screening Starts at 45
3 articles · Updated · First Alert 4 · May 13
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in men under 50 and the second leading cause in women under 50, with doctors reporting a sharp rise in younger patients.
Age 45 screening can catch the disease earlier: Diahann Hart’s first colonoscopy found colon cancer, and after surgery plus 6 months of treatment, she is now cancer-free nearly a year later.
Doctors say younger adults often dismiss warning signs such as blood in the stool, bloating, weight loss or bowel-habit changes, which can delay diagnosis until the cancer is more advanced.
Average-risk adults are advised to begin screening at 45, while people with a family history may need earlier tests; colonoscopies can also remove precancerous polyps before they turn cancerous.
Researchers are still studying why cases are climbing in younger adults, with smoking, alcohol, obesity and poor diet joined by scrutiny of gut health, inflammation, antibiotics and possible environmental exposures such as microplastics.
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Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Crisis: 60 Young Americans Diagnosed Daily and the Race for Prevention
Overview
Colorectal cancer is becoming a major health crisis for young Americans, now ranking as the top cause of cancer-related deaths in adults under 50. Every day, nearly 60 new cases are diagnosed in this age group, showing a clear shift in cancer patterns. The rise is especially sharp for rectal cancer, which now makes up about one-third of all colorectal cancer cases, up from one-fourth in the mid-2000s. Despite this growing threat, only 37% of people aged 45 to 49 are current with recommended screenings, highlighting a serious gap in early detection and prevention.