Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the leading cause of colorectal cancer; cancer death A new report reveals an alarming change in the incidence of the disease in adults under 50.
According to the American Cancer Society’s report titled 2026 Colorectal Cancer Statistics, although colorectal cancer rates among older adults are decreasing, people under 65 are facing an increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses.
Adults under the age of 65 account for almost half (45%) of the new population Colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, said the report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is growing fastest among adults ages 20 to 49, growing at a rate of 3% per year.
In adults under age 50, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of diagnoses in this age group occur between the ages of 45 and 49. People in that age group are eligible for regular check-ups, but only 37% receive regular check-ups.
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The report also found that rectal cancer is on the rise and now accounts for about a third (32%) of all bowel cancer cases, up from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“rear decades of progress“The risk of death from colorectal cancer is increasing in younger men and women, supporting that our practices and other exposures are actually increasing the disease,” Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director for surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, said in a press release.
“We need to double research effort In addition to understanding the causes, early detection can also prevent deaths by educating clinicians and the public about the symptoms and increasing screening for people aged 45 to 54. ”
The report predicts that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year and 55,230 people will die from the disease.
Researchers say more than half of colorectal cancer cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors. These include malnutrition, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and lack of exercise. and obesity.
“These findings further highlight that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger people and highlight the urgent need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society.
“This report also highlights the importance of continued action. funding research Discover new treatments to treat diseases and help advance patient care. ”
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If the disease is detected in the localized (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report states.
