You may have come across headlines in recent months about the rising rates of colorectal cancer in young adults. This phenomenon was first noticed over a decade ago, but the trend has continued to the present. Unfortunately, experts are still not certain why this is happening. Nevertheless, most agree on contributing factors and offer guidance for how all of us can (a) reduce our risk of developing colorectal cancer and (b) catch colorectal cancer early if it does appear.
Though no clear cause of this trend has been identified, there are multiple theories backed by evidence. It is widely accepted that a sedentary lifestyle and excessive body weight increase one’s risk of developing colorectal cancer. On a population level, movement has been decreasing and body weight has been increasing over recent decades. Thus, it wouldn’t be a surprise that these factors would lead to an uptick in colorectal cancer. In a similar vein, low fiber diets, excessive alcohol consumption, and high processed meat intake have been associated with colorectal cancer.
While most experts attribute the rise to some combination of these lifestyle factors, there’s also uncertainty as to why the increased rates are specific to younger people. The most reasonable explanation for this discrepancy seems to be the success of screening colonoscopies, which are recommended for adults 45 years and older, or occasionally earlier depending on individualized risk. Though colonoscopies are a great tool for catching cancer early (or even preventing it by catching it in the precancerous state), the costs and risks are still considered too high for colonoscopies to be routinely recommended in younger people.
Though this remains an area of ongoing research, there are absolutely things you can be doing at the present. Firstly, as with almost any disease, health behaviors are critical in lowering your risk. One of the leaders in this field, Dr. Vikram Reddy at Yale, notes the importance of not smoking, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy body weight, and consuming at least 25 grams of fiber per day.
These behaviors can significantly lower your risk of colorectal cancer and many other diseases, but the risk never becomes zero. This is why it’s essential to know the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, and to seek medical care promptly if they appear. These include diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, changes in stool appearance (color/shape), and fatigue which can be a sign of internal bleeding. While colorectal cancer is not the only cause of these symptoms, don’t make the mistake of ignoring them for an extended period of time. If caught early enough, colorectal cancer can be effectively treated. This is unfortunately not the case if a cancer is found in later stages.
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