Doctors around the world are concerned about the growing number of cases of colorectal cancer in people under 50. Health professionals reported the global scenario as ‘scary’, ‘worrying’, ‘global problem’ and ‘global alert’.
Colorectal cancer, which affects the large intestine and rectum, has been one of the most common diseases affecting health and quality of life. In recent decades, experts have observed a worrying trend: although cases among older people have remained relatively stable, representing the majority of patients, rates among younger people have increased significantly.
Clinical oncologist Paulo Hoff, president of Oncologia D’Or, reports that, compared to rates 30 years ago, some studies indicate an alarming increase of up to 70% in the incidence of colorectal cancer in young patients. The trend raises serious concerns about the health of this age group and requires an in-depth analysis of the underlying causes.
In a recent report from the American Cancer Society, an alarming increase in colorectal cancer cases among patients under the age of 55 in the United States is highlighted. In 2019, 20% of diagnoses of this type of tumor occurred in this age group, representing twice the number recorded in 1995. The data was accompanied by an annual growth of around 3% in the detection of advanced cases.
American statistics projected 19,500 new cases and 3,700 deaths from colorectal cancer among younger people in 2023. Similar trends were observed in several European countries, including the United Kingdom.
For oncologist Samuel Aguiar Jr., leader of the Colorectal Tumor Reference Center at the AC Camargo Cancer Center, in São Paulo, the reality is worrying and frightening. “It has become normal to see young people, aged 35 or 40, arriving at the office with a diagnosis of this tumor”, he reports.
The professional emphasizes that what worries most is not only the frequency of cases, but also the impact that colorectal cancer has on young people, as noted by Alexandre Jácome, member of the Lower Gastrointestinal Tumors Committee of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (Sboc) .
Causes
But what is behind this alarming increase in cases among young people? Although there are several hypotheses, none of them have been confirmed so far, as explained by Paulo Hoff. One of the theories suggests that drastic changes in lifestyle, such as the transition from an agrarian and rural society to an urban one, contributed to the increase in colorectal cancer, with diets based on ultra-processed products and less natural foods, in addition to a lifestyle more sedentary life.
“It is known that overweight and obesity are factors related to this tumor, and extra pounds are an increasingly common problem”, added Aguiar Jr. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, both in medical treatments and in production livestock, is also raised as a possible influence in this worrying scenario, reiterated Alexandre Jácome.
The rapid incidence among younger people is modifying early detection programs in several parts of the world. In the United States, for example, health authorities have started recommending preventive screenings for people over 45, instead of the previous 50 years.
In Brazil, although there is no specific public screening program for colorectal cancer like the one that exists for breast or uterine cancer, the National Cancer Institute (Inca) is debating the implementation of a program for this disease, expected to be released in the coming months.
Diagnosis
In the case of colorectal cancer, two main tests are used: the fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy. The first investigates the presence of blood in the stool, indicating the need for further investigation, while colonoscopy allows direct visualization of the interior of the intestine. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard due to its high sensitivity in detecting lesions, but its availability and the discomfort associated with it can be limiting. On the other hand, the fecal occult blood test is more accessible and easier to perform, serving as an effective screening.
