Jenna Scott’s experience with her first pregnancy included both joy and significant abdominal pain that persisted even after the birth of her son. More than a year later, at just 31 years old, she received a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. “The GI doctor said he didn’t need to send anything off to pathology to know that I had cancer,” she recounted, marking a devastating moment in her life, reports BritPanorama.
Stage 4 cancer, characterized by its spread to other organs, in Scott’s case, reached her liver. “I’ve always been super fit and healthy,” she noted, expressing disbelief that cancer could invade her life. In recent years, colorectal cancer has emerged as a leading cause of cancer deaths among young adults, a trend that research published in 2023 highlights with alarming clarity.
According to the findings, deaths from colon and rectal cancers in people under 50 have risen by 1.1% annually since 2005, propelling this disease from the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in this demographic in the early 1990s to the leading cause by 2023. Dr. Ahmedin Jemal from the American Cancer Society described the situation, stating, “We don’t know why it is increasing.” Mortality rates for other major cancers among young adults are declining, yet colorectal cancer continues to rise, indicating a pressing need for awareness and research.
Scott, now an advocate for the nonprofit Colorectal Cancer Alliance, voiced her concerns regarding the trend. Following extensive treatment including chemotherapy and surgery, Scott finds herself in stable condition but must maintain indefinite therapy to prevent the cancer’s return. Her ambition remains to become a grandmother one day, a hopeful outlook amidst her battle.
This can no longer be called an old person’s disease
The analysis by Jemal and his colleagues examined over 1.2 million cancer deaths in the U.S. among those under 50 from 1990 through 2023. The study identified colorectal cancer as increasingly prevalent, a shift that challenges previous assumptions regarding its demographic. “It’s the most complete data we have,” Jemal said, underscoring the urgency of understanding this emerging pattern.
While the average annual decline in deaths for several leading cancer types has been noted, colorectal cancer stands apart with mortality rates only climbing. The top five causes of cancer deaths in those under 50 now include colorectal, breast, brain, lung cancers, and leukemia, with colorectal cancer asserting its dominance. Jemal cautioned that the disease can no longer be simply classified as an “old person’s disease” and called for increased screening efforts, particularly targeting adults aged 45 to 49, who account for a significant portion of under-50 diagnoses.
Dr. Y. Nancy You from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center stressed the importance of early detection, further highlighting the symptoms common among younger adults. Scott’s experience reflects broader issues, including delays in diagnosis that often result in advanced-stage cancer at the time of detection. “There are definitely delays in diagnosing young adults who are already symptomatic,” You concluded.
As a stark reminder, nearly 60 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases emerge daily in the U.S. among individuals under 50, challenging notions around age and awareness of this disease. Efforts to enhance education on symptoms, coupled with expanded access to screenings, are paramount for turning the tide against this alarming trend.
