Colon Cancer On the Rise in Younger Adults
More adults under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colon cancer, new study finds.
Video Transcript:
More adults under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colon cancer, according to a new study.
The researchers examined more than 1 million cases of the disease from 2004 to 2013… and found the number of young-onset patients rose more than 11 percent. In contrast, the number of later-onset patients fell by 2.5 percent.
The younger group also had a higher rate of advanced cancer, which the lead researcher called “very concerning.”
He says while the health-care system has done a great deal to heighten awareness and increase screenings in older patients, much more needs to be done to fight colon cancer in people under 50.
The study suggests that screening guidelines, which currently call for screenings to begin at age 50 for those at normal risk, may need to be revisited.
I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV… with the health news that matters to you.
