Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Aug 1: A new large-scale study has found that Americans born in 1990 face four times the risk of developing rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950, sounding alarms about rising early-onset gastrointestinal cancers in younger generations.
The research, conducted by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, and published in the British Journal of Surgery, revealed a 15% rise in early-onset gastrointestinal cancers between 2010 and 2019. Today, colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 50, and the second among women in the same age group.
Experts ruled out genetics as the major cause, instead pointing to what they call a “birth cohort effect” — a result of lifestyle changes including processed diets, sedentary habits, obesity, and environmental chemical exposure affecting newer generations.
The impact is not uniform across communities. Alarmingly, Hispanic individuals account for 22% of stomach cancer cases in the young, compared to just 7% in older age groups. Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations also show disproportionately high rates of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Silent symptoms raise concern
The American Cancer Society warns that rectal cancer often presents no symptoms early on, delaying diagnosis. When symptoms do appear, they may include:
• Blood in stool (bright red or dark maroon)
• Changes in bowel habits
• A feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
• Narrow stool
• Abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue
Key risk factors in young adults
Health experts have identified several contributing factors behind the alarming trend:
• Obesity: Significantly raises colorectal cancer risk, especially in men.
• Type 2 Diabetes: High insulin levels contribute to cancer development.
• Unhealthy Diet: High intake of red or processed meat, low intake of vitamin D, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Smoking & Alcohol: Both increase colorectal cancer risk.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Chronic conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis increase vulnerability.
• Family History & Genetic Syndromes: Inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome or FAP raise lifetime risk.
• Race & Ethnicity: Systemic health disparities and environmental factors affect risk in minority populations.
Doctors are urging early screenings and lifestyle changes as preventive measures. With risk factors now affecting younger populations, public health advocates say awareness and early detection are key to curbing the rising toll.