Colon cancer in young people is becoming more common, and symptoms may be different from those seen in older patients. A new study has discovered which are the signs for which we should urgently consult a doctor.
Colon cancer is becoming more common among young people – Photo Shutterstock
A new study suggests that young people with colon cancer have distinct symptoms from older patients. Doctors warn that people under the age of 50 who experience certain symptoms should urgently consult a specialist, reports the DailyMail.
A recent study of 5,000 patients in Taiwan found that 60% of young people under 50 with colon cancer experienced rectal bleeding before diagnosis, compared with less than 50% among older patients. Also, almost 60% of young people affected noticed changes in their toilet habits, compared to 48% of older people. Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a South Carolina oncologist, says these differences in symptoms reflect his clinical observations.
“It certainly makes sense, rectal bleeding had the strongest association, especially with early onset. Rectal bleeding tends to be an early sign of cancer in them, while abdominal pain is a later sign. Sometimes, many of the younger patients complain of hemorrhoids, and one of the complaints of hemorrhoids is bleeding. It is common for young patients to attribute bleeding to hemorrhoids and never consult a doctor about it, but this allows a potential cancer to grow and become somewhat advanced by the time it is finally diagnosed. That’s why I often tell patients that bleeding, while common, is not normal—and tell them to get evaluated by a doctor.”, explained Dr. Cedrek McFadden.
The three most common symptoms
The study by Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, which serves more than 280,000 patients annually, analyzed data from 5,704 patients diagnosed with colon cancer between 2008 and 2019, excluding patients over 70 because of the increased risk of mortality.
The results suggest an increase in cases of early-onset colon cancer in Taiwan, indicating that Western diets are not the only cause. This increase could be linked to food additives such as emulsifiers and exposure to microplastics.
Among the observed symptoms, rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits and abdominal pain were found to be more common in patients under 50 compared to the elderly, where rectal bleeding and changes in bowel habits were also common, but less pronounced.
The third most common symptom for the group was a change in the frequency of going to the bathroom.
More young people are suffering from colon cancer
The study revealed a 3% annual increase in colon cancer cases among the under-50s since 2009. This trend emphasizes the need for symptom monitoring and early medical consultation.
The paper found that 62.4% of young people were diagnosed with the condition at stage four or three, compared with 50.3% of older adults.
The rise in colon cancer cases in Taiwan mirrors a similar trend seen in the US, where the incidence has increased by 50% among people under the age of 50 over the past three decades. Since 2000, rates have increased annually by about 2 percent, and the US now ranks sixth worldwide in cases of early-onset colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the EU, accounting for 12.7% of new diagnoses in 2020 and the second leading cause of cancer death. Screening is essential for prevention, but in 2021, more than half of people aged 50 to 74 in the EU did not undergo such screening. While Nordic countries such as Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark had screening rates above 60%, in Serbia, Montenegro and Hungary they were below 10%, according to Eurostat.
Eurostat data show that over 90% of Romanian respondents stated that they had never been screened for colorectal cancer.
