Recent research has shown a trend of increased cases in younger people, a finding confirmed in a study published in the American Cancer Society Journal, “CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.”
The study, which was released during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, finds that the disease is showing up more in people under the age of 50, and often in more advanced stages.
“This is a global trend,” said Dr. Karthi Subbannan, who specializes in oncology and hematology at Northside Hospital." It’s not anything that’s just here in the U.S. or just in recent years.”
She has noticed an increase in younger patients with colorectal cancer in their 30s and 40s at her practice, although the majority are still older.
“Unfortunately, what happens in younger patients is that when they have symptoms like a change in bowels or rectal bleeding, cancer is not the first thing they think about, specifically if they don’t have a family history.”
Read the full article at AJC.com.
