Colorectal (Bowel Cancer) in Younger Populations (Young Onset)

[Nicole_GCCA]

Hello all - first, thank you for so many people contributing to posts in our community. We have many individuals who are experiencing symptoms and are anxious, looking for comfort, and reassurance.

We always advise to seek out medical professionals for an examination and possibly additional tests. I did want to take a minute and just provide a few facts about colorectal cancer, particularly young onset.

While 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people 50 years of age and older, 10% of colorectal cancers are in those under 50. And it knows no age limit. Tweens and teenagers are battling this disease, often stage IV, and researchers are working hard to determine why is it that people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer.

Since 1994, there has been a 51% increase in colon and rectal cancers. Particularly rectal cancers.

We never want to scare anyone, particularly those who are young and experiencing symptoms. But we need to end the saying "you're too young for colorectal cancer". We've met far too many people who were told this by their primary care doctor, were not screened, and are no longer with us today because of it.

Our hope is that all people who post will get checked out by a specialist and find out that they have hemorrhoids or a condition that can be treated with prescription and over the counter medications, or diet changes. But we DO want them to get checked out by a specialist.

Colorectal cancer can be largely treatable and beatable if detected at an early stage. Personalized medicine is changing the future of the disease and every patient should be tested for biomarkers to determine their treatment options. (We've created a microsite all about biomarkers, please check out knowyourbiomarker.org for more.)

It is a tough balance between providing support to comfort someone and causing additional anxiety, but our goal here is to share our experiences, but I would not be doing my job if I didn't make this post and share that colorectal cancers DO happen in younger people.

Please check out this article, which has links to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance's survey data and "Never Too Young" initiative.

Again, thank you to all who participate and support each other on this community.

~Nicole @ GCCA

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Hidden - thanks for sharing those links! I believe there's a mix of factors as well. Dietary, lifestyle, environmental. Thankfully colorectal cancer has a screening method (which some cancers unfortunately do not). Thank you for being an active member of our community.