Colorectal Cancer on the Rise Among Younger Age Groups
Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger individuals, including children and adolescents. Recent research reveals that cases in this age group present a distinct pattern compared to those in adults.
Researchers examined the medical records of patients under 21 diagnosed with colorectal cancer. They found that these younger individuals typically lacked a family history of cancer and often had advanced, aggressive tumors. Although the overall risk of colorectal cancer in adolescents remains low, doctors should remain vigilant for potential symptoms that might otherwise go unexplained.
Changing Trends
There’s been a notable shift in colorectal cancer trends lately. While older adults, specifically those over 65, are experiencing a decline in incidence and mortality rates, younger populations, particularly those 50 and under, are seeing increases.
According to the American Cancer Society, the rate of colorectal cancer in individuals under 50 surged by an annual 2.9% between 2013 and 2022. Additional studies indicate this increase is also seen among children and teens. Although older adults still account for most colorectal cancer cases—consistent with cancer trends in general—early-onset colorectal cancer is emerging as a significant public health issue.
To further investigate this rise among children, the study’s authors analyzed data from a network of centers known as the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative, which tracks pediatric cancer cases across North America. They focused on sporadic cases in children and teens without known genetic predispositions or other health issues that could lead to cancer.
The analysis included 84 patients aged 21 and younger diagnosed between 2012 and 2023. The median age at diagnosis was about 16.5 years, with symptoms often present for around 12 weeks before diagnosis.
Only 20% of the cases had any family history of colorectal cancer. The majority were already diagnosed at advanced stages, with 51% classified as stage III and 29% as stage IV. Notably, these tumors also displayed a particularly aggressive nature.
The Impact of Late Diagnosis
The results of this research are set to be shared at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ national conference this weekend, meaning they have not yet undergone the usual peer review process, which is crucial for validating scientific findings.
Assuming the findings hold, it appears that children and teens with colorectal cancer are often diagnosed only after their tumors have started to metastasize. This delay, combined with the aggressive nature of these tumors, can lead to serious consequences.
Approximately 37% of younger patients experienced a recurrence of their cancer following treatment, and nearly half (45%) had died by the end of the study period. In contrast, the overall five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer currently stands at 63%.
Pediatric cancer is relatively rare, which can lead to missed early signs. In the study, common symptoms reported in children and teens prior to their diagnosis included back or abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, weight loss, and rectal bleeding. While there are several possible causes for these symptoms, doctors should remain alert to the potential of cancer when assessing young patients with health issues that lack clear explanations.
“Given the rising incidence of adolescent colorectal cancer, practitioners should consider it in their differential diagnoses for symptoms like abdominal pain and rectal bleeding in adolescents with no alternative diagnosis,” the authors mentioned in the study abstract.
Annually, around 150,000 Americans are projected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the rising rates in younger populations, encompassing factors such as increasing obesity rates, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary habits leaning towards processed foods and high-fat diets. Unfortunately, this worrying trend does not seem to be declining anytime soon.
