Doctors Flag Bowel Incontinence as Colorectal Cancer Warning Sign, With Cases in Young Adults Nearly Doubling Since 1995
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Jul 8
Doctors Flag Bowel Incontinence as Colorectal Cancer Warning Sign, With Cases in Young Adults Nearly Doubling Since 1995
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Jul 8
Summary
Bowel incontinence can signal colorectal cancer, doctors said, though it is usually a later-stage symptom seen more often in rectal tumors than an early warning sign.
Rectal and colon cancers can trigger leakage by weakening sphincter nerve signals, narrowing the bowel so liquid stool slips through, or producing mucus-driven diarrhea.
Earlier red flags more commonly include rectal bleeding, blood in stool, persistent bowel-habit changes, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, iron-deficiency anemia and fatigue.
Screening from age 45 matters because some colorectal cancers cause few symptoms; doctors said rates in younger people have nearly doubled since 1995.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common U.S. cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, but early detection often makes it surgically treatable.
As treatments advance, why does colorectal cancer still recur in up to 60% of patients post-surgery?
Are common herbicides a hidden driver of the colorectal cancer surge in young adults?
Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Surges 3% Annually: Causes, Challenges, and Urgent Solutions for a Global Health Crisis
Overview
Colorectal cancer was once mainly a disease of older adults, with most cases found in people over 50. However, there has been a significant and worrying rise in early-onset colorectal cancer, now affecting younger populations worldwide. This trend began with those born in the 1950s and has become even more pronounced in later generations, with diagnoses among adults under 65 increasing by 3% each year. The report highlights how this shift signals a new and urgent public health concern, as more young people are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer than ever before.